MediumshipRobert Bayer (Editor) (2018) 1 Table of Contents The Third Language — Andrew Jackson Davis [4] What is Spiritualism? — Mr. & Mrs. Uriah / Eliza Clark [8] The Mystery and Revelations of Mediumship — Daniel Home [16] Vibration — Andrew Jackson Davis [20] A Spiritual Counterpart — JM Peebles [24] The Law of Affinity — JM Peebles [27] Clairvoyant Visions — Cora Richmond [29] Guardian Angels — J. M. Peebles [31] The Ocean of Thought — Ralph Waldo Trine [34] Organic Impressibility — Hudson Tuttle [36] Meet the Spirits Half-Way — E. W. and M. H. Wallis [39] A Safe Rule to Follow — E. W. and M. H. Wallis [41] Self-Protection by Self-Possession — E. W. and M. H. Wallis [43] Study Necessary for Self-Knowledge — E. W. / M. H. Wallis [46] Astrals and Thought-Forms — L. Kelway Bamber [49] Materialization Mediumship — William Walker Atkinson [56] Communication by Vibration — May Wright Sewall [68] Why Spiritualism Matters — John S. King, M.D. [80] Hypatia of Alexandria — Dawn of the Awakened Mind [82] Advice on Mediumship — Lilian Walbrook [103] 2 Making a Channel for The Inflow of Power — Mary Bruce Wallace [106] On Mediumship — Walter DeVoe [108] Mediumship vs. Mediatorship — Walter DeVoe [111] Astral Emanations — William Pelley [113] Concerning Various Orders of Life — Mary Bruce Wallace [123] The Dead Speak — Major J.H. Webster [125] Living with The Angels — The Eloists [138] A Message from The Victorious Immortals — The Eloists [141] Strong in The Discipline and The Light — The Eloists [143] Blending Seas of Thought — The Eloists [145] Mediums — Joseph A. Loffredo, Jr. [147] Spirit Communion Basics — Robert Goodwin [149] Active Inspiration — Robert Bayer [159] 3 The Third Language Morning Lectures Andrew Jackson Davis (1850) The third language used in the higher world is what we here call, “the language of the Heart.” It is, more properly speaking, the language of emanation. Every private affection throws out an atmosphere. Whatever your predominating love may be, it emits an atmosphere which winds itself about your person. And when the temperament is fine, sensitive, and susceptible, the odor and influence will correspond. If the individual is the victim of an inverted love, a love turned out of its pure, native channel, he throws out upon you a coarse, vicious atmosphere, which in these days is called a “magnetic influence.” Mediums, sensitives, and clairvoyants see it, and many persons not so gifted, feel it, and they know not whence or why. “That person gives off a peculiar influence,” you say; “I feel it.” It depresses you; or, it makes you angry. Another person makes you feel “cheerful” and “happy” and “joyous;” and you are physically quieted or spiritually aroused by mere contact with these more exalted characters. In the 4 Summer-Land this “language of the heart” is carried to an inconceivable degree of perfection. For instance, suppose you and your brother, or you and your sister, should meet you who have not met for long, lonely years. If you have outgrown the necessity of external speech, and if you have been taught through the mysterious suggestiveness of pure Music, you then deepen into the language of impersonal and perfect LOVE! In the higher Spheres such language is alone the medium of communication. It is the language of absolute contact of personal love, atmospheres; by which is meant that two persons, meeting face to face, meet also heart to heart, and are forever friends. On earth it is but the hands, or eyes, or lips, that touch and speak. There, it is the indescribably sweet and perfect meeting of soul with soul. They thus inhale and thoroughly understand each other. For the first time there sweeps through the gladdened heart the eminent satisfaction of receiving perfect appreciation through the deathless wisdom of a brother, a sister, or a companion. Your most secret history is wordlessly told and forever known; the details of your earth-life appreciated, and with all their innumerable bearings upon the shape of your character; and so, too, are comprehended all the steps that have brought you to that position in the upper existence; so that the “communion” which takes place at that time extends through all the years, days, hours, events, and moments of your terrestrial pilgrimage. The delightfulness of this conjunction constitutes the beautiful, glorious happiness which 5 diversifies, gladdens, and exalts the inhabitants of the Spheres. This interior, unspeakable language, is sometimes called “the language of Communion” the unutterable speech of the immortals which poets try in vain to reach and express; which Music; with its unsearchable attributes and great powers, very nearly approaches. When your love is warmest and deepest, when you meet it in another, or when it meets you, then you catch the rudiments of this infinitely finer, this inexpressibly beautiful, this trans-mundane, this celestial, this heart emanational conversation, which is so divinely-blissful, so spiritually-refreshing, and so exalting to all who dwell under its blessings in the Summer-Land. Let it be once more affirmed that words are not the most eloquent expressions of the Soul. There is no joy so intense as that which sparkles in the eye and crimsons the cheek, yet refuses the aid of the voice; there is also “no grief like that which does not speak.” Where the heart has a tale to tell, how poor are the utterances of the lips! Need we these ever to tell us that we are loved? Is there not something in arbitrary signs that breaks the spell of our sweetest feelings? There is a mental electricity more mysterious far than the subtle fluid 6 that thrills through material substances. Its conductors are the soft light of the human eye, the smile of the human lip, the tone of a subdued and earnest voice. Pleasant, indeed, is the solitude that is broken only by this silent speech. 7 What is Spiritualism? Mr. & Mrs. Uriah and Eliza Clark, The Spiritualist Register (1857) What is Spiritualism? Those who would know what Spiritualism teaches, must learn of those who are acknowledged to be its believers and representatives. Yet every believer may have some phrase of opinion peculiarly his own, corresponding with his own individuality: Hence, an individual opinion, or a number of opinions by different individual opinion, or a number of opinions by different individuals on a given point, may not fairly and fully represent Spiritualism as a whole, as received by the mass of the most advanced Spiritualists. All who are called Spiritualists agree in recognizing the fact of Spiritual intercourse between the earth-sphere and the world invisible to external senses; and this constitutes them Spiritualists—at least, in theory, without any regard to opinions on other points, and without regard to creed, character, or standing. 1. Spiritualism, as generally understood, teaches the existence of a supreme Spiritual Intelligence, unfolding, pervading and animating the Universe; a God of infinite attributes and perfections, and the 8 Father of all Spirits, whether in or out of the mortal form. 2. It teaches that man is the Spiritual offspring of God—“made in his image and likeness.”—with God-like attributes, individualized and immortal. 3. Man having a Spiritual nature, God-derived and God-sustained—a compound of all the essences of subordinate objects in creation—in that nature is eternal and progressive. 4. As a personal, essential, intelligent being, man is a Spirit; in this earth-life as an individual, clothed with a material form or body, and made to pass through a state of discipline initiatory to other spheres of existence. 5. When the Spirit has fulfilled its mission in this earth-life, and the body has done its office work, the material form is thrown off in the process of death, and man enters the spheres of Spiritual being. 6. In proportion to his unfoldment in Truth, Wisdom, and Love, man on entering the Spirit-world, may so control certain imponderable elements and influences, under certain conditions, as to come back 9 to earth—in various ways communicate with those who are still in the body, and produce manifestations to demonstrate to the internal and external senses of mortals, the presence, the identity, the power, the intelligence of Spirits; ministering faith to the unbelieving, light to the darkened, joy to the sorrowing, strength to the weak and weary, comfort to the mournful, love to the lonely and neglected, hope to the despairing, and eternal life to the dying. 7. While still in the body, man, according to his spiritual culture and unfolding, may hold direct communication with the Spirit-world, may realize the influences of the Holy Host of heaven, may commune with the ever revealing, ever-inspiring Father-Spirit of the universe, may read the souls of his fellow men, with an interior eye, may sometimes penetrate time and space with a prophetic glance, may have such command over the invisible elements, in co-operation with unseen intelligences, as to control disease, heal the sick, bless the unfortunate, and dismantle death of its dreads. 8. On entering the Spirit-world, man takes the plane or state corresponding the nearest to the plane, the interior condition, the predominant character of his earth-life; though opposed by nothing in the Divine Economy to prevent the overcoming of all evil, the eternal progress of the Spirit, and the ultimate reign of harmony throughout 10 the empire of Him who shall become all in all. 9. The bond of all true Unity, is, Love, the essence of God, the element of the angel-world, the life current of all spiritual communion, the test of Jesus, the touchstone of all noble souls whose deeds have blessed humanity, the criterion of all faith, all fraternity, all forms, all mediums, and all fellowship with earth and heaven. 10. Spiritualism is in harmony with all sound Revelation, Reason, Philosophy, and Religion; and without seeking any direct antagonism with seemingly opposite systems, seeks rather to recognise the good and the true in every thing, and to harmonize all things according to the laws of eternal progress as under the guidance of him who governs supreme, through men and angels, over all worlds and intelligences. 11. It recognises the Sacred Histories and Scriptures of all ages and nations; accepts Christianity in Spirit—not as embodied in creeds, but as taught and exemplified by Christ and his apostles; each believer claiming the Protestant right of private judgment to read and interpret for himself, accountable for his opinions to none except God at the bar of his own conscience. 11 12. It claims that modern spiritual manifestations, in their multiplied forms and phases, are in entire harmony with so-called miracles, revelations, inspirations, angel-visitations, and demonstrations of invisible power and intelligence recorded in the Bible; that both are accounted for by the same laws; that the same laws are eternal and unchangeable in their operations; that in each grand epoch in the history of the world, manifestations have been and will continue to be adapted to the needs of man as a being of unending progress; that the Past, Present and Future are indissolubly linked as one; and that no contempt is thrown upon the Past, with all its noble heroes, martyrs, seers, sages, saints, mediums and Messiah, in accepting the manifestations of the Present, and in contending that the same Heavens whose light shone on the brow of Olivet, are still open to-day for man to commune with God and angels, and receive foretastes of the Divine life. 13. To thousands who have no faith in the Past, who are without hope, without God, Spiritualism gives demonstrations of immortality, and they go on their way rejoicing. 14. To thousands who have only a faint and feeble faith, it gives like demonstrations. 12 15. To those who mourn in Zion over the coldness of religion, it gives new life, and inspires them with a glowing consciousness that God and the Holy Host have not withdrawn from the world. 16. It demonstrates anew, and re-affirms with life-quickening power, all the divine precepts of Christ, and those who have gone before, making them the living truths of to-day, and enforcing them home on the heart and life, with all the pathos, the unction, inevitable in realizing the presence of loving spirit-friends and of angel beings pleading in the name of the Father and the holy dead. 17. Spiritualism recognizes the foreshadowing of some truth in all the false mythologies, superstitions, forms, creeds and religions of the Past and Present, and instead of first making aggressive war on these, proposes to lift man up and out of them, and build up in him the true church, and a temple fit for the indwelling of the Divine Spirit and of angel guests. 18. It maintains that spirits produce audible concussions or raps, accompanied by tests convincive of spiritual agency; move material objects not in contact with any human organism; present spirit forms and spirit scenes; hold intercourse with mortals; communicate messages manifesting super-human intelligence; make impressions 13 on the minds of mediums; read, write, speak, think, act and personify through persons, who are suitably susceptible; identify themselves to their earth-friends; read and transmit to a distance, thoughts and messages; describe distant objects, scenes and persons; sometimes make accurate predictions, and give reliable counsel; speak in tongues, and interpret languages unknown to the mediums; examine, describe and cure diseases; raise persons and ponderable bodies without regard to the law of gravitation; exhibit spirit lights; touch persons and cause them to feel their influence; execute music audible to the sense of hearing; and in the hour of closing nature, reveal themselves to mortals and welcome them home to the spheres. 19. It teaches that all mortals have within themselves the elements of mediumship to commune with the spirit-world; are more or less in communication with spirits in and out of the form and measurably influenced by them, either for good or ill, whether they are conscious of it or not; and the influences, manifestations, impressions and communications they receive, will in a measure if not entirely correspond with the moral plane mortals occupy, the affections that predominate, and the life they lead: and, hence, the need of a true life in order to attain a true, harmonic Spiritualism. 14 20. While it prescribes no ceremonies or creeds to coerce or cramp the conscience, it recognizes the doctrine of individual liberty and responsibility; the duty of individual regeneration, in conformity to physical and spiritual laws; the self-retributive elements of wrong; the self recompense of the right; the necessity of practicing Love, Purity, Justice and Humanity in the attainment of Harmony, Happiness or Heaven either in the Present or Future life; and the right and duty of every man to seek all the light he needs as his guide, and settle for himself all matters between his own conscience and God. 15 The Mystery and Revelations of Mediumship Daniel Home Incidents in My Life (1863) "Only those who have stumbled amid the doubts and uncertainties of a sadly unsatisfying materialism, can comprehend the inspiration which the assurance of future existence, amended, enlightened, purified, gives. I am frequently asked, what is the use of Spiritualism? My answer invariably is, that I believe it is permitted to check the growth of materialism. No one, however sceptical, can receive messages from the spirit-world, knowing their truth, and disbelieve in spirit-life, in a hereafter, in immortality! This is the key-stone to a belief in the Holy Scriptures. Scores, hundreds, thousands, at this day say as I did, 'Why don't people believe? They have Moses and the prophets.' I believed on Bible testimony. Yes, but those thousands do not believe in Bible testimony; they ask for a sign. Will they not seek 'the sign,' and investigate its truth? Would not they give all they possess for a 'sign' proving immortality? Do they not desire intercourse which, sanctified by prayer, will (I have often seen it done) direct them to particular passages in Holy Writ, which for the first time they comprehended, and which became sanctified to them? 16 And again, there are many who receive Spiritualism as a fact; well-minded, timid persons, who fear that Spiritualism is dangerous. I have seen quite enough to convince me that carnal-minded people bring their evil angels with them into many a circle; and they suggest what is evil more palpably than in those silent whispers that lead as surely astray. 'By their fruits ye shall know them.' We know that 'lying spirits' endeavour to distil their poison into the purest hearts; and be sure they are on the watch around the circle assembled for manifestations, and can only be 'sent behind' by faithful prayer; but every Christian knows that he is perpetually beset by such like. "Spiritualism, as we know it, commences each seance with prayer; and usually (though not invariably) has reason to finish with praise. I would not join a circle where this was neglected. I could name many who have been lifted out of the slough of materialism by, in the first instance, seeing the marvellous manifestations that arise from Mr. Home's mediumship, and the mediumship of the young lady I have already mentioned. Ridicule on the one side, and asseverations on the other, cannot alter facts. There must be a coin to create a counterfeit, and, doubtless, charlatanism has found its way into 'circles,' whence it has 17 been driven as soon as discovered. Mediumship is a mystery we cannot fathom, nor understand why the power should be delegated to one more than to another. We have the highest authority for the belief that there are 'diversities of gifts' all from 'the same spirit;' and amongst them is specified, 'To some the discerning of spirits.' Why should one have 'the gift of healing,' and not that of 'divers kind of tongues,' or 'the seeing of spirits.' That is one of those marvels we shall comprehend when we no longer see through a glass darkly. I can only add, with no large amount of humility, that 'mediumship' is not the only thing I do not understand. "But I must cease here. I do not attempt to give any further description of the 'manifestations' I have witnessed, the wonders I have seen, and examined, and questioned, and after my examinations and questionings, could not doubt their being permitted for the purpose, which I again repeat, is the mission ONE of high and holy Spiritualism. "I do not feel called upon to write in defence of Spiritualism, nor to quote from the volume of facts by which that defence is to be sustained, and its truth proved. I have no talent for argument or controversy; there are others who have, and are willing, as well as able, to be its defenders. I believe it to be sanctioned by GOD that therefore it must be for a good purpose; and I content myself, as I must content those who may read what I have written, 18 with expressing my conviction that Spiritualism is TRUTH." 19 Vibration Andrew Jackson Davis Morning Lectures (1865) The great law of vibration is inherent in, and stirs all life. In fact there is no form of life but what is moved and when giving expression to its inner being, this wonderful law takes its place in the first stirrings of being and expressive elements. Without vibration you would not be conscious of any stirring in the air, or of any visible sounds of nature in the atmosphere. For as sound travels so very swiftly, it must necessarily have some basic and underlying principle to manifest upon, and this same principle is vibration. The throbbing of your heart in your bosom is due to the vibratory currents passing and repassing through the elements of life itself, and fanning continually the functions of the human body into lively action. Place your fingertips, for example, on the crown of a hard hat in a room where there is any music being made, and your feeling, and the sense thereof will record instantly the rhythmic measures of the melody, the wave motions in the atmosphere collect very rapidly and when their union is perfect or nearly so, they vibrate the sound tones freely into the air, and if you place your fingers on a hollow, hard substance you will instantly feel the record of the music making itself 20 beneath your touch. So you will readily understand by this little illustration that vibration lives in everything that has life and finds expression of that life. In the verbal, spoken word of a mortal or spirit, there is a vibratory current that takes up the word's significance and carries it always to a place of recordance, be it in your world or ours; and this is the reason that at some future day in the eternal, you will find all your words and deeds in the aggregate recorded in the great Psychic Book of Ether, and be they good or bad, remember that they are precisely as you have expressed them at the time you gave them being. This will show conclusively that you will never find the law of Vibration false, never erring, always the unchangeable significance of truth, comely or otherwise. This is the reason that Spiritualism teaches to its followers the very importance of Vibration and its laws; so that we may all tend to make our lives better and truer each day that we live, so that when you of earth come to meet the life Eternal, you will not falter and be afraid of the past earth life deeds, words and thoughts; but will be ready to read this mighty record with clear and unflinching hearts, and with the light of hope and purity shining out of your eyes, you mount the step-ladder of Progression with the new strength of the everlasting. 21 There are some mediumistic instruments in the world who are so finely and delicately attuned to every wave motion, that they can almost instantly on meeting a stranger, strike the rate of his or her vibration in such a manner as to be able to tell his or her good and bad qualities without coming into physical contact with either at all. Each human vibrates a little differently, for in some, the rate of vibratory motion is very swift, while in others it is immoderately slow. In some, vibration strikes a happy medium being neither too fast or too slow. In mediums the rate of vibration usually runs faster than in those undeveloped for such powers. For one reason they must necessarily be very sensitive in order to record spirit communication of any order, and persons of extreme sensitiveness usually vibrate with great power and rapidity. In the animal and vegetable kingdoms, vibration is much the same as it is in the human. As this great law stirs all life, we cannot fail to see it manifesting wherever we may be. When there is a communication desired by wire on earth between two parties when all conditions are propitious, then there must first be an even rate of vibration established in each receiving station before the communicating parties can achieve any result. Some spirits when in the materialized form, receive a much more rapid vibration than they possessed in the material body, due from the current flowing from the circle. Then if there chances to be a very quiet and constrained circle of sitters the 22 forms may simply be animated with a very slow and plodding vibration indeed. As an ocean current sways the glassy face of the deep and causes the water to raise itself into waves that grow and enlarge with redoubled energy each passing moment, so does the law of vibration stir into action all life and being. The whole throbbing pulse of every phase of life is brought into expression by this wonderful and unfailing law, Vibration. As the tiniest leaf in the early spring peeps out to tremble in the soothing vibratory waves of the air, so does the mighty ocean thunder and sob, its great voice, shaking as it vibrates itself upon the human ear. 23 A Spiritual Counterpart JM Peebles Immortality and Our Employments Hereafter (1880) “There is a spiritual counterpart to all organized forms; and a spirit, or a circle of spirits, can reproduce a materialized counterpart, that is, he can temporarily re-materialize the spiritual counterpart, by the aid of laws that you see in operation, at what is called a materialization séance such as have been frequently witnessed in the presence of mediums. The latter phenomena are simply the materialization of the spirit body of persons who formerly lived on your earth in the flesh, and are enabled to re-clothe themselves for the time being in matter borrowed from the mediums and the persons forming the circle. When, therefore, you see a spirit form clothed in white drapery, you may assume it is an exact materialized reproduction of the spirit matter composing the dress and body of the spirit who thus shows herself or himself. As, however, the matter they are clothed in is taken from the bodies of persons in the flesh, — principally from the medium, — it has, at first, a tendency to shape itself into forms resembling more or less the person of the medium. Hence, every spirit who thus re-clothes himself or herself through a new medium, bears a considerable resemblance to the latter — a circumstance 24 which investigators naturally regard as exceedingly suspicious. It is, however, no more so than the resemblance which one person bears to another, whose garments he may have borrowed. When the power becomes stronger, it is found that the resemblance to the medium diminishes.” “Spirit communion is practised in our world the same as with you, only we obtain higher and more perfect manifestations. Should a spirit, who knows nothing of spirit communion, see a messenger from a higher sphere, he is unable to comprehend the meaning of it, fancies he has seen an angel, and becomes alarmed, or runs away with the idea that it is a ghost. This sounds very absurd to you, but nevertheless it is true. There is as much superstition and bigotry on the subjects of spiritualism and spirit-communion among spirits, as there is among those in the flesh; nor is it to be wondered at when you consider with what prejudices people are sent out of your world into ours, and how little change they experience in their mode of life and surroundings. The spirit world is so material to their senses, that they cannot realize the existence of spirit at all, still less that they themselves are spirits. “You are mistaken, therefore, in supposing that the higher and lower 25 spirits are intermingled in your thoroughfares, in a manner to be equally visible to all. Those who are on the earth-plane see only earthly spirits; those from a higher sphere see both classes. It is entirely dependent on the spiritual development of each man how much of the spirit world and its inhabitants he sees.” 26 The Law of Affinity JM Peebles Immortality and Our Employments Hereafter (1880) Spirits, as you well know, meet by the law of affinity, and move in groups or divisions. Minds engaged in the same pursuits naturally gravitate to the same condition; and our homes, instead of being built as you build yours, are constructed to meet the desires of those who inhabit them. Those having no desire for food or shelter, and no especial wish for a located home, wander on through this spiritual world of wondrous beauty, enjoying it much as you would enjoy an Italian sunset. Spirits are more inclined to live and move in groups, clusters and societies, than mortals. This does not apply, however, to those who have just left their bodies. The groups and societies that I previously referred to, dwell or exist out of and beyond the atmosphere of your earth. Though the spirit world may, the spiritual world does not begin, until the earthly life is nearly lost sight of. The embryo infant is immortal from the moment of conception, and hence it is a fearful vice to blast and force the bud from the tree of life. Every child should be a 27 welcome child, and, passing through the diverse experiences of infancy, youth, and manhood, should reach a good old age. It is not true, as a class of Theosophists teach, that it is possible for a human soul to perish through inherent depravity. But it sometimes transpires that a human personality in descending into and assuming earth garments, becomes divided in a manner analogous to the separation of a ray of light through the agency of the prism, and these divided portions converge and blend in the original personality again after certain special missions have been accomplished. In the spirit world, spirit guides do not necessarily bear any relation to the mediums they controlled upon earth. There should be a distinction made between spirit guardians and spirit guides. All mortals have their guardian angels, but all do not have spirit guides helping them in the performance of a special work. Where there is great love, however, between the guides and the medium, where both have suffered much, Doth growing mutually strong in sympathy and faith, then the spirit guide becomes the teacher of the medium, when the latter is clothed upon with immortality. 28 Clairvoyant Visions Cora Richmond The Nature of Spiritual Gifts (1884) If you are thinking of any friend, or if you desire to reach any friend, that thought takes the form that is best adapted to reach that one. If it is language that they can understand, it takes the form of words. If they are in earthly life, the language corresponds to the words that they are accustomed to hear. If they require symbolical expression, then the thought takes the form of the symbol which they best understand. As in ancient days the symbol of peace was the dove, so in all the ancient records you read about the symbol of the dove that was seen flying from the Ark, and the symbol of the dove that came down from heaven, which is the exact expression of what may represent a spiritual or angelic thought. Many clairvoyants or mediums see around you symbols that are given as the result of spirit messages; flowers wreathed around you, symbols of doves, or birds, or rainbows, or stars, all of which are the expression of the thought your spirit friends desire shall reach you. When you speak of flowers being brought from the spiritual world, why the whole realm of thought is a flower garden, and the soul itself is the source of that life that is symbolized in flowers. When you 29 speak of stars being brought from Heaven as an expression of spiritual brightness, every spirit is a star that shines out in the darkness of time, reaching you by the symbol that shall best express the thought and condition of spirit life to you. And when you hear of homes and cottages nestling in the silent forest, and streams that flow down the vales, of hills that are covered with verdure, you must not think thereby that these are as moveless, as changeless as the hills over which man has climbed for ages here. But they are the ever varying thoughts of the spirit that gives expression to them; and he who is the artist, pictures for his friends the realm of his existence in transcending scenes of loveliness and beauty of which the earth has no prototype; dissolving views that reveal the ever-varying aspirations of the soul, and pictures that melt and merge away in the grand harmony of existence sight, sound, sensation, all blended in the divine perception of the soul; and when you tell us that this is not reality, I go to the soul of my friend who has made these pictures for me, and I say: “Make me again the living image that I saw;” and there it is pictured before me as beautiful, as truthful as ever. 30 Guardian Angels J. M. Peebles Seers of The Ages: Embracing Spiritualism Past And Present (1904) "We owe to our guardian angels great reverence, devotion and confidence. Penetrated with awe, walk always with circumspection, remembering the presence of angels, to whom you are given in charge, in all your ways. In every apartment, in every closet, in every corner, pay respect to your angel. Dare you do before him what you dare not commit I saw you?" "Consider with how great respect, awe, and modesty we ought to behave in the sight of the angels, lest we offend their eyes, and render ourselves unworthy of their company. Woe to us if they who could chase away our enemy, be offended by our negligence, and deprive us of their visits." Our good angels reveal many things to those who seek into the works of nature. A celebrated writer on jurisprudence, informs us of a person who used to pray heartily to God, morning and evening, that He would send him " a good angel to guide him in all I is actions ; " and, in 31 answer to his soul's entreaty, a spirit at last responded; at first in dreams and visions to correct certain bad habits; afterwards, warning him of dangers, and showing him how to overcome difficulties. When his mediumship was better developed, he heard the voice of his angel, saying, " I will save thy soul. It is I that appeared to thee before." This spirit would knock at his door — spirit rappings — direct him in his devotions — guard him in his sickness — prevent his reading anything morally injurious — warn him of evil by touching his left ear, of good results by touching his right ear — map out for him the true path of life by signs, visions and impressions. Desire for Mediumship Such is a general view of the conditions favorable to mediumship. It is not a gift to a few, but is possible to all. Obedience to its essential requirements, an honest purpose, a pure heart, are demanded of those who would attain its highest walks. How to Become a Medium You may have natural powers as yet unawakened, or you may be capable of becoming mediumistic after sufficient trial. There is only one course. If you understand animal magnetism, you know that -the 32 subject must become passive, and have no care for the result. As the law of magnetic control is the same, whether mortal or spirit be the operator, the same passivity must be observed by the medium. Sitting in circles is the best of all means, especially if a medium already developed be present. Retiring alone at a certain hour is also a good discipline. Anxiety to receive communications is among the greatest obstacles to success. Pray for the best gifts, and according to your possibilities your prayer will be answered; for remember that the dear departed of the realms of light are equally desirous with yourself to converse, and will avail themselves of every opportunity to do so. Remember, that, though they avail themselves of every channel, the noble angels of light love best to approach the pure in heart and pure in body. 33 The Ocean of Thought Ralph Waldo Trine This Mystical Life of Ours (1907) We are all living, so to speak, in a vast ocean of thought. The very atmosphere about us is charged with the thought-forces that are being continually sent out. When the thought-forces leave the brain, they go out upon the atmosphere, the subtle conducting ether, much the same as sound-waves go out. It is by virtue of this law that thought transference is possible, and has become an established scientific fact, by virtue of which a person can so direct his thought-forces that a person at a distance, and in a receptive attitude, can get the thought much the same as sound, for example, is conducted through the agency of a connecting medium. Even though the thoughts as they leave a particular person, are not consciously directed, they go out; and all may be influenced by them in a greater or less degree, each one in proportion as he or she is more or less sensitively organized, or in proportion as he or she is negative, and so open to forces and influences from without. The law operating here is one with that great law of the universe, -- that like attracts like, so that one continually attracts to himself forces and influences most akin to those of his own life. And his own life is 34 determined by the thoughts and emotions he habitually entertains, for each is building his world from within. As within, so without; cause, effect. Thought is the great builder in human life: it is the determining factor. Continually think thoughts that are good, and your life will show forth in goodness, and your body in health and beauty. Continually think evil and your life will show forth in evil, and your body in weakness and repulsiveness. Think thoughts of love, and you will love and will be loved. Think thoughts of hatred, and you will hate and will be hated. Each follows its kind. 35 Organic Impressibility Hudson Tuttle Arcana of Nature (1909) There is always incompleteness and imperfection in sensitiveness produced by the methods previously stated. The state may be induced by various means, but the most reliable is the normal organization which bestows sensitiveness and health at the same time. Sensitiveness is common to all individuals: it only varies in degree. It appears in intuition, discrimination of character, and many other forms. It depends on the delicacy of the nervous system, — the more delicately this is toned, the greater its liability to disease; and hence the majority of sensitives suffer more or less from pain. Perfect health is essential to the highest order of impressibility. Abstaining for a time from food or contact with the world conduces to sensitiveness of the nervous system, but, carried beyond narrow limits, introverts the mind on itself, and destroys the essential conditions. This state is often seen in the insane, who are usually highly and painfully impressible; but impressions of their own minds are received as foreign and strange hallucinations result. The body must be pure. When inflamed with an improper diet, or saturated with stimulants and narcotics, the mind, reciprocating the 36 physical condition thus created, is a seething mass of passions, a magazine which a spark may explode, and not willingly do the pure spirits approach to it. The prophets of old fasted and dieted, that they might gain immortal inspiration: they ordered their lives in purity, that they might allow the invisible world the closer to approach them. Be assured, that, although, for want of better, all mediums are employed, sooner or later those who are not lifted out of the moral sloughs into which they have fallen will be discarded, and only those who possess an upright character will be reserved for the noble office. Desire for Mediumship. Such is a general view of the conditions favorable to mediumship. It is not a gift to a few, but is possible to all. Obedience to its essential requirements, an honest purpose, a pure heart, are demanded of those who would attain its highest walks. How to Become a Medium. You may have natural powers as yet unawakened, or you may be capable of becoming mediumistic after sufficient trial. There is only one course. If you understand animal magnetism, you know that -the subject must become passive, and have no care for the result. As the law of magnetic control is the same, whether mortal or spirit be the 37 operator, the same passivity must be observed by the medium. Sitting in circles is the best of all means, especially if a medium already developed be present. Retiring alone at a certain hour is also a good discipline. Anxiety to receive communications is among the greatest obstacles to success. Pray for the best gifts, and according to your possibilities your prayer will be answered; for remember that the dear departed of the realms of light are equally desirous with yourself to converse, and will avail themselves of every opportunity to do so. Remember, that, though they avail themselves of every channel, the noble angels of light love best to approach the pure in heart and pure in body. 38 Meet the Spirits Half-Way E. W. and M. H. Wallis A Guide to Mediumship and Psychical Unfoldment (1910) By the earnest study of the conditions requisite for development of body, mind, and psychic sense, the intelligent medium will endeavor to meet the friends who inspire him at least half way on the Jacob's ladder of communion, and to enter into reciprocal and conscious fellowship with them on the thought plane, so that their inspirations may freely flow through his instrumentality to others, unobstructed by his personality. Classes for the development of mediumship along these lines are very much needed; classes in which the members are expected to take an active part, not merely to sit and sit, and let the spirits do all the work, but by systematic preparation and spiritual aspiration and cultivated receptivity prepare themselves to become lucid and capable instruments for the transmission of information and helpful influences from the other side. There is but one course of procedure for the successful attainment of excellence in any field of labor or thought, and that is by study and training, by observation, by persevering application and determined 39 effort, by readiness to learn and responsiveness to every influence which will help to smooth the pathway to the desired success. The intelligent medium who follows this course will not go blindly on groping in the obscurity of the psychic realm and becoming the tool for unseen and unknown agents, but he will unfold his powers, and by co-operating with them will learn to know and trust his spirit preceptors, until he may possibly become as a spirit among spirits, the conscious possessor of such knowledge regarding his own spiritual nature and powers that he will be a ready instrument in the bands of enlightened spirit people, With whom he can knowingly work for human good. 40 A Safe Rule to Follow E. W. and M. H. Wallis A Guide to Mediumship and Psychical Unfoldment (1910) It is a fairly safe rule, all things considered, not to attribute anything to the action or influence of spirits until the ordinary and more immediate and probable causes have been exhausted, or until the influence, or impression, becomes so clear and unmistakable that there can no longer be any doubt as to the spirits source. But even then it does not follow that the spirit is one that the medium should trust and obey. He may be attracted, and even fascinated, but he must proceed cautiously and patiently, and by no means invite any and every spirit to influence him, in season or out of season. Neither should he implicitly rely upon the ideas, advice, or messages he receives. The spirits are of all sorts and conditions, and there are so many attendant circumstances and influences which limit the intercourse that great care and patience are needed, and every step on the road needs to be circumspectly taken. It is better to make haste slowly and be sure of the facts, than it is to believe credulously and afterwards find that mistakes have been made, or that misleading spirits have seen their opportunity—and have taken it—to practise upon the too eager faith and unquestioning acquiescence in 41 their sportive plans. There are medium who have secured a certain degree of unfoldment and lucidity, and can give a fair amount of satisfaction to inquirers, but who are not strong enough to withstand adverse, critical, and chilling influences. They droop and fail in the presence of sceptical or cynical people, and ought not to venture before the public until their powers are more fully developed. In the happy private circle they are, useful and render very acceptable service, and, possibly, after prolonged experience might become more positive, through the greater activity of their own spiritual nature, so that a larger work could then be successfully performed: but patience and persistent endeavor are requisite in this realm as in all others, so as to secure steady and orderly unfoldment rather than rapid but imperfect growth. 42 Self-Protection by Self-Possession. E. W. and M. H. Wallis A Guide to Mediumship and Psychical Unfoldment (1910) A spirit friend of ours states that he is a member of a brotherhood in spirit life which has as its motto: 'Truth is our creed; love is our force; purity is our safeguard.' This is worth considering and employing in this world. No path is free from difficulty and danger, and the student in this realm will not find that ignorance is bliss, by any means. On the contrary, he must endeavor to understand and cultivate his own spiritual powers, and bend his energies in the direction of psychic self-mastery. We would urge our friendly reader to learn how to become positive to all influences calculated to injure, and receptive to impressions from, and the guidance of, those spirits who are intelligent and trustworthy. Self-realization and self-possession on this plane are the true safeguards. Then the development of the psychic nature along the lines of spiritual aspiration, the wise and earnest seeking of the best and the highest, will bring happiness beyond compute. The medium who maintains his health of body and vigor of mind will naturally experience the reactive educational results of his association with intelligent spirit preceptors. If his purposes are pure 43 and high he will enjoy a fulness and richness of spiritual life which will amply compensate him for the supposed 'sacrifice of individuality' of which we hear so much. What gladness can equal that which must thrill him when he knows that through his agency the veil of death has been lifted, and sundered hearts again beat as one? What joy can compare with the happiness which the sensitive must experience when he knows that he has been instrumental in dispersing the mists of error and fear regarding the future life, and banishing dread of death and God from the minds of the doubting and distressed sufferers of earth? If the medium is sometimes cruelly misjudged, wrongfully accused and condemned, the consciousness of having been true to right and truth will sustain him. The memory of the hours of exaltation, when, from the heights of spiritual illumination, the inner self looked out upon the great spiritual realm and rejoiced in its atonement with the Supreme—when it triumphed over its limitations and realized its divinity and destiny—is a source of strength even in the darkest hours of reaction and human weakness. To hear, from the trembling lips of the mourner, the cheering words, 'Oh! thank you so much for letting my loved one come to speak to me'; or, 'That message has lifted such a terrible load from my heart', or, after an inspired and inspiring discourse, the sincerely-spoken words, 'Thank you! Your address has helped me more than you know 44 or can understand,' is recompense indeed to the medium for any trial or suffering he may have endured. The delight of doing good; of helping others; of lifting the load of care; of ministering to the mind diseased; of wiping the tears from the mourner's eyes and making life worth living, because there is no death, is a perpetual joy. Surely, difficulties and dangers are worth facing and overcoming in the service of humanity and the angels, and for the good cause of Truth, when one knows the abiding pleasure which such altruistic labors can afford! 45 Study Necessary for Self-Knowledge E. W. and M. H. Wallis A Guide to Mediumship and Psychical Unfoldment (1910) The study of man's natural spiritual aptitudes, and the methods of their intelligent development, safeguarding and exercise, are therefore of supreme importance to the individual and the race. Those who are constitutionally sensitive cannot properly understand themselves, or rightly interpret their own feelings and experiences, until they realize and comprehend these soul-possibilities and relationships; and the world will be benefited by the spread of the knowledge that by the cultivation of these powers of spiritual perception and expression the presence of the so-called dead can be scientifically demonstrated and the continuity and purpose of life be revealed. When wisely cultivated and rightly used, mediumship seldom has any ill effects; on the contrary, it tends to the harmonizing of the individual, both physically and morally. With pure aspirations and a reasonable amount of common sense, a medium, even of only moderate power, may maintain his health, refine and expand his intellect, and become a substantial helper to his fellows. But mediumship, to be healthy, must be progressive; there is no standing still and maintaining the 46 integrity of either spiritual or physical powers. No sooner does aspiration stop than retrogression begins; but with a high standard always before him, and favorable environments, there appears to be no limit to the individual development of the earnest and intelligent medium. The power on the spirit side is practically unlimited; all that is required is an instrument sufficiently perfect to express it. Philosophical Deductions The belief in a future life is well-nigh universal, but if man lives after the decease of the body he must surely persist as a rational, conscious intelligence. Such persistence must be natural, and provision for the sequential spiritual life of man must have been made as part of the economy of the universe. The idea of the indestructibility of life is forcing itself upon intelligent people, and the survival of man beyond the incident of death is coming to be regarded as due to, and dependent upon, his spiritual nature. Whatever powers are possessed and exercised by the discarnate being are inherent, if dormant, in the essential self while here. Man is immortal because he is an expression of Life—the highest manifestation of that wonderful creative energy which is imminent everywhere. Having attained self-conscious being, the doffing of the physical body does not destroy life, but, in reality, 47 affords it greater scope for expression under new and more subtle conditions. If man is a spiritual being now and always; if power resides within; if all knowledge is possessed as a state of consciousness—then life after death must mean the retention of knowledge, the increase of power for self-expression, and the satisfaction of the mental and spiritual ideals of the real self. As all manifestation of mind depends upon the consciousness and its will ability; as all transference of thought is due to the ability of one mind to appeal to another by inducing sensations which result from some form or mode of motion in the ether or psychic atmosphere—there must be some point of contact, some intermediary agency by means of which such results can be achieved; for the eye light and color, for the ear sound, and so on; but MIND MUST INTERPRET MIND. 48 Astrals and Thought-Forms L. Kelway Bamber Claude's Book (1919) You want to know the difference between "Astrals" and "Thought-Forms?" They are quite different and by no means interchangeable terms, though people often speak as if they were, for the latter is only a "picture" and not a "spirit" at all. There are two kinds of "Astrals" (so called because they are functioning on the "Astral" plane). First, there are the spirits existing there in their Astral bodies, which are made out of actual atoms. The Astral, though fine in comparison with the physical body, is still coarse (for it is only undeveloped people who are not spiritually evolved who live on that sphere). There is a great difference between it and the bodies of those on the third sphere. There is no "death" after you leave earth, but this further difference in degree makes people think sometimes one has to undergo that ordeal again on going higher through the different planes. This is not so, though a great change certainly does take place in the "astral body;" the chemical condition alters, it becomes refined, but it is no greater than that which takes place in your earth-body continually, all the cells of which change and renew several times in the course of 49 your life there, though you are not conscious of it in either case. When a man in the Astral changes mentally, his body changes too in sympathy with his development, and in corresponding degree, but more quickly than with you. If a man longs to progress very fast, and makes up his mind and concentrates on it, he can change in a very short time; but if he makes no special effort, and progresses slowly mentally, his body changes slowly too. This gradual refinement continues through the spheres; the change comes from within. The second kind of Astral is a spirit connected with a physical body, and functioning temporarily only on the Astral plane, while its earth-body sleeps or is unconscious. It looks much the same as the other, but its body is actually different, for it has an astral "husk" only, much on the same principle as the temporary body made for a materializing spirit at a séance, and like that composed of astral atoms consolidated. These astral atoms collect round the aura of a developed man, and on his soul emerging (as I have already described to you) from the centre of his body, these atoms close round his spirit and form a "husk" or covering to protect it in its travels. 50 He could not function in his real "astral" body, for that is not complete; it is not complete for a curious reason. It is this: that a certain amount of the material that makes his astral body is not available while he is connected with his physical body, for it goes to make the vital cord or connection between his travelling spirit and his stationary body, which is only severed at death (for the severing means death). After this has occurred, of course, no cord being then required, this material is available for his astral body, and so he no longer requires to borrow astral atoms to protect himself; his spirit is sufficiently clothed, being complete. As I am not in the Astral I find it difficult to tell if a person is in their permanent astral body or not. This accounts too for the difficulty a clairvoyant sometimes has in being able to say if a person is in or out of their physical body permanently. They too are, it must be remembered, seeing in other conditions than their normal. Sight varies enough even on the earth-plane; no two men there see exactly alike. If you took a collection of people to a hilltop and asked them to 51 describe the view without artificial aid, they would all see in different degrees: some only things near, others only things distant, some as it were through a haze, and others clearly. This is why normal clairvoyance is often incorrect—things are difficult to see in the right perspective; and it varies too according to the bias of the medium's brain on which it is registered by the sight. A "Thought-Form" is a picture, a thought-photograph, projected through the atmosphere by someone, but the recipient would have to mentally "develop" it, as it were, in order to see it; by that I mean they would have to be thinking of the sender at the right moment, and in the right way. Space is nothing, for it takes no longer to think four or five hundred miles than into the next room. So if you are in the right mental condition you can see a thought-form; it's only a picture in the atmosphere. This explains certain things; for instance, visions of Christ to the dying. Hundreds on the battlefields may see Him individually and spontaneously. If He is projecting His thought to all who are lying there, all who are attuned in mind can and may be able to see Him. Just as when a ship at sea sends out a wireless message or a call for help, it is not confined to one receiver, but is open to all ships and receiving stations which are suitably attuned. So all who are suitably attuned and harmonized can receive thought pictures, impressions, 52 and inspiration. This explains also how various people in widely separated places may simultaneously be "inspired" by one individual. "Inspired" I said, not "controlled" remember, Mum; that is a very different matter (people should always use common sense in judging what they are told). Personally, I don't believe spirits from the higher spheres ever "control" people on earth. It is hard enough for us who are only on the third sphere to get back into the old conditions, for those it would be exceedingly difficult and a deliberate waste; it would be like engaging a tutor of the highest scholastic attainments to teach an infant its A B C! Now as regards a so-called "ghost" haunting a particular spot. If it is a persistent haunt that has continued for many years, even for centuries, it is almost certainly a thought-form and not a spirit; for it is very unlikely that any spirit would be so unfriended as to be permitted to go on in this aimless and unhappy manner indefinitely, for as soon as any one desires help here it is forthcoming. What happens is this. Certain events (probably tragic), which are felt very intensely by the participators at the time, leave a very clear cut and well-defined picture in the atmosphere, and at first for a short time the actors in the scene may return in spirit to the spot, and by thinking over what happened revivify and intensify that thought picture. 53 Ordinary people then come to that place knowing its history, and some may see the "ghost," and they see it because they are psychic and unconsciously psychometrize the atmosphere, and so mentally develop the picture that is there, and so constantly renew the image, which thus becomes almost permanent. Yes, I know it does seem difficult to realize, but it also applies to "feeling" as well as "seeing" past conditions; thus a medium feels pain and discomfort when describing the illness of any one. The medium is psychometrizing the condition connected with the spirit while it was a body, and not the spirit itself. I say this because I have been told and have noticed myself that spirits are surprised on returning to earth to hear themselves described with symptoms of disease they have almost forgotten they ever suffered. For instance, your father, who "died" over thirty-five years ago, here is in perfect health, yet whenever he returns to earth the mediums describe him as having a cough, and discomfort in his chest; that was true when he passed over (he died of pneumonia), but of course is totally unlike his present condition. Another man I know, who had some very painful disease which affected one leg, tells me he gets quite angry when he hears it described now, as he no longer feels it at all even when he returns to 54 earth-conditions, and yet the mediums describe it most accurately, and one might imagine he was still in suffering instead of in perfect health! 55 Materialization Mediumship William Walker Atkinson Genuine Mediumship or The Invisible Powers (1919) One of the rarest, and at the same time the most eagerly sought after phase of mediumship, is that known as "materialization mediumship." In this phase of mediumship the discarnate spirit is able to draw upon the vital forces of the medium, and those present at the séance, to such effect that it may clothe itself with a tenuous, subtle form of matter, and then exhibit itself to the sitters in the same form and appearance that it had previously presented in its earth life. Many of the most remarkable testimonies to the truth and validity of spiritualism have been obtained through this phase of mediumship, and it is the aim of all investigators to witness, and of most mediums to be the channel of the production of, this remarkable phase of mediumistic phenomena. In almost all instances of materialization phenomena in the record of modern spiritualism we find that a cabinet was employed. There are two reasons advanced for the necessity of the cabinet in this phase of mediumistic phenomena. The first of said reasons is that in many cases darkness has been found necessary for the preliminary work of the materialization, although absolute darkness is not necessary in 56 the general room in which the materialized spirit forms afterward appear. The second of, the said reasons is that there seems to be a psychic atmosphere created by the blending of the spirit forces with those of the medium, which atmosphere must be kept apart from and unmixed with the auras of the members of the outside circle or the general visitors at the séance. Why the Cabinet Is Necessary Just what is the technical reason for this necessity is a source of argument and dispute among the different authorities on the subject, and it may be said that the matter is not as yet definitely settled. But whatever may be such technical explanation, the fact remains that the seclusion of the medium has been found almost absolutely necessary for the production of the phenomena of spirit materialization. The few exceptions noted in the history of modern spiritualism only go to establish the general rule. For the purpose of a general study of the subject, it may be accepted as a general fact that the production of spirit materialization has as one of its necessary conditions the presence and use of a dark cabinet in which the medium is secluded from the circle or assemblage of persons attending the séance. How to Make the Spirit Cabinet 57 One of the best kind of cabinets for this purpose is a small alcove room, or other small room adjoining the room in which the visitors sit at the séance. A large closet will also answer the purpose very well, in fact many mediums prefer the closet to any other form of cabinet. If neither small room or closet is available, then it becomes necessary to build or erect a cabinet for the medium. One of the simplest and least expensive methods of building or erecting a cabinet for the medium is as follows: Take a large piece of dark cloth, cotton or woolen, or else a large shawl, and fasten it by stout twine or cord across a corner of the room. It will be better if the curtain is made in two pieces, so as to allow it to part in the middle for the purpose of the entry and exit of the medium, and for the purpose of allowing the materialized spirit form to show itself to the circle. Its not necessary that all light be excluded from the cabinet, and therefore it need cause no worriment if a little light filters in over the top of the curtain; but the lights in the main room should be kept burning "dim and low," not only for the purpose of aiding in the actual work or materialization, but also in order to preserve the proper conditions when the materialized spirit presents itself between the opened curtains. How to Use the Spirit Cabinet 58 When the cabinet is properly arranged the medium enters it and sits down on a chair provided for that purpose. He should not be disturbed thereafter, but should be encouraged and aided in his work by the maintenance of a quite, reverent mental attitude on the part of the members of the circle. It will be found helpful if a few hymns are sung while waiting for manifestations from the cabinet. The best way to encourage materialization at a regular circle is for gradual steps to be taken leading up to this high phase of phenomena. For example, the circle should sit in the ordinary way at its regular meetings, and devote itself to the production of the lesser forms of phenomena. Then, before adjournment, the medium may go into the cabinet while the circle sits for materialization phenomena. This practice may be made to form a regular part of the proceedings of the circle. But the circle must be very patient concerning the production of this class of phenomena, for the necessary conditions are very difficult to develop, even when aided by the most powerful spirits. Many sittings may be required before even the slightest sign of materialization is obtained—but the final result will repay much waiting and watching, much patience and much perseverance. But sooner or later the phenomena will come if the proper conditions are provided for them. Spirit Phosphorescence The first evidence of the presence and activity of the spirit forces 59 striving to produce the phenomena and materialization will probably be the appearance of peculiar hazy phosphorescent lights playing in front of the curtain forming the front of the cabinet. These lights will consist of small globules or balls of phosphorescent light that will dance about like the familiar will-o'- the-wisp seen over swamps and in damp, woody places. These lights will flit here and there, will alternately appear and disappear. Sometimes they will appear as if a multitude of fire-flies were clustered in front of the curtain. When these fire balls appear the circle may know that it is well on the way to perfect materializations. Appearance of Materialized Substance As the power increases, and the conditions become stabilized and perfected, the manifestations will become more pronounced. It often happens that cloudy nebulous bodies of psychic substance are formed and float around in front of the cabinet, like clouds of steam or vapor illumined by a dim phosphorescent light. Sometimes attempts will seem to have been made to form these clouds into the semblance of the human body, and often these bodies are more or less incomplete, as for instance the arms may be missing, or else there may be dark holes where the eyes, nose, and mouth should be. It may be stated here that the sitters should not be frightened by these sights, nor should mental agitation be permitted to manifest too 60 strongly, as such conditions act to retard further developments. Sometimes perfect hands and arms materialize, but apparently not attached to a body. These hands may float out over the circle, and may touch the members thereof. In rare cases these hands take articles handed them by members of the circle, which articles are then "dematerialized" and vanish from sight, afterward appearing in other parts of the house. Large articles of furniture have been known to be dematerialized in this way. Materialized Spirit Forms Later on, the nebulous spirit forms will take on more definite lines and form, and will become more plainly visible, and will also assume a far more "solid" appearance. When the phenomena reaches its highest phases, the materialized spirit forms can be plainly seen and actually recognized by their friends in earth life. In some cases they will actually leave the front of the curtain and will walk down among the sitters, shaking hands with them, touching them on the cheek, or even embracing some loved one. In rare cases these materialized forms are able to converse with the sitters in the circle, just as plainly as when in earth life. Scientific Proof of Materialization 61 It is not the purpose of this book to prove the existence of mediumistic phenomena—rather it points out the means and methods whereby the student may obtain such proof for himself or herself. But it may be suggested here that the skeptic may find an abundance of proof of the genuineness of materialization phenomena in the records and reports made by eminent scientists, statesmen, and others. Particularly, the report of Sir William Crookes, the eminent English scientist, will furnish such proof to the inquirer who demands "scientific proof" before he will believe anything out of the usual. Sir William Crookes has given convincing evidence of the genuineness of spirit materialization, even going so far to offer records of the weight of materialized spirits, and their photographs taken by him—in some instances the photographs showing the forms of both medium and spirit materialization. How to Conduct a Materializing Séance In sitting for materialization, the circle should maintain the same general demeanor that it observes at other times. Silence or dignified conversation may be indulged in, but joking or levity should be forbidden. Hands should be held, and reverent singing indulged in. It should be remembered that this phase of mediumistic phenomena is not something apart and distinct from the lesser phases which have been described in detail in this book. On the contrary, it is simply a 62 matter of degree, and the same general principles underlie all phases of mediumistic phenomena. Therefore, it is not necessary to repeat the instructions regarding the conduct of the circle, or the rules for the development of the medium, Read the earlier chapters for the same, which are equally applicable in this place as in the places in which they originally appeared. Trumpet Mediumship In what is known as "trumpet mediumship," the sound of the voice of the communicating spirit is increased in power by the use of a trumpet shaped arrangement of paper, card-board, tin, or aluminum. There is no particular virtue in the material used, and anyone may make a serviceable trumpet out of heavy paper or thin card-board. The principle of the use of the "spirit trumpet" is precisely that of the well-known megaphone, I. e., it magnifies the sound, and increases its carrying power. A spirit speaking in the faintest whisper through the trumpet is enabled to have its voice heard plainly by those present in the circle, where otherwise nothing would be heard. Often the spirit force is so strong that it will pick up the trumpet and carry it around the circle, tapping the various members thereof, and whispering through it into the ear of some particular members. Weak spirits, therefore, who are unable to make themselves heard in the ordinary way, often employ the trumpet with effect in séances. When 63 the trumpet is used, it should be placed on the table, awaiting the use of the spirits. Spirit Playing on Musical Instruments, Etc The spirit forces also sometimes will see fit to play upon musical instruments placed in the cabinet with the medium, the guitar, mandolin, concertina, accordion, etc., being the instruments preferred in such cases. Of course the skeptics will claim that the medium may play the instruments himself or herself, and thus give ground for the claim of fraud; consequently in the case of public séances, and many private ones as well, the medium will insist upon having his or her hands tied, and other precautions taken to eliminate the possibility of fraud and deception. Such precautions are in no way a reflection upon the medium, and are, in fact, demanded by many mediums as a matter of self-respect, self-protection, and the cause of truth. In many cases in which the mediums were entirely lacking in musical education, knowledge, or training, the spirits have performed skilled selections of music upon the instruments in the cabinet. Independent Slate Writing What is generally known as "independent slate writing" is a very 64 interesting phase of mediumship, and one of the peculiarities thereof is that such phenomena is sometimes produced through mediums who seem to possess little or no mediumistic powers in other directions. In independent slate writing there is no employment of the hands of the medium by the spirit to form the letters, words, and sentences of the communication. On the contrary, the writing is done directly by the spirit forces, independent of the organism of the medium. Of course the psychic power of the medium and his vital energy as will is drawn upon by the spirits in producing this form of manifestation, but the medium is sometimes seated out of reach of the slates and in no case actually, touches the pencil. The State Writing Circle Independent slate writing is performed as follows: The circle selects two common slates, or else one folding slate. A small bit of chalk, or a tiny piece of slate pencil is placed between the two slates, the latter being then placed tightly together, and then bound with thick, strong twine—in some cases the ends of the twine are fastened with sealing wax, This trying and sealing is for the purpose of eliminating the suspicion of fraud or deceit, and for the purpose of scientifically establishing the genuineness of the phenomena. The bound slates are then placed on the table in the middle of the circle. In some cases the medium rests his hands on the slate, and in other cases he keeps his hands entirely away from them—the phenomena itself evidently being produced with equal facility in either case. A written question may either be placed inside the slate on a small bit 65 of paper, or else sealed and placed on top of the tied slates. In some cases the scratching sound of the pencil may be heard proceeding from the tied slates, while on others no sound is heard while the writing is being done. When the slates are opened, at the end of the séance, the slates will be found to contain writing—the answer to the question, or else a general message to the circle—the writing sometimes consisting of but a word or two, while in other cases both of the inside surfaces of the slate will be found to be covered with writing. It often requires quite a number of sittings before this phase of phenomena is secured; in many cases it is never actually secured in a satisfactory form. Spirit Paintings There are cases of record in which crayon drawings have been produced on the slates by enclosing small bits of various colored crayons therein when the slates are tied together. Again, oil paintings have been secured on the slates, after small dabs of oil paint of various colors have been placed on the inside surface of the slates, a little linseed oil being poured on each have been secured on the slates, after small dabs of oil paint of various colors have been placed on the inside surface of the slates, a little linseed oil being poured on each. 66 Fraudulent Slate Writing Slate phenomena has been brought into some degree of discredit and disrepute during the past ten years or more, by reason of the fact that a number of unscrupulous "fakers," or bogus-mediums, employed a system where this class of phenomena was counterfeited by trick methods. But, as all careful investigators of mediumistic phenomena well know, some wonderful results are still obtained, quietly and without publicity or notoriety, in many family or private circles. In this case, and in many others, the very best mediumistic phenomena is often produced in those family or private circles, where mutual sympathy, harmony, and spiritual understanding prevail, and where there is an absence of the skeptical, caviling, negative mental attitudes, which tend to interfere with the free flow of spirit power and the degree of manifestation. The tiny flame burning on the family altars and in the private shrines serve to keep alive the Light of the Spirit, which is too often dimmed by the public glare of counterfeit and sensational exhibitions of so-called spirit power. 67 Questions and answers from Dr. King's Spirit Guide, Communication by Vibration May Wright Sewall Neither Dead Nor Sleeping (1920) The third lecture is entitled: 'The Vibratory System of Communication Between the Two Planes, viz.: Earth and Ether,' but as this is too long a title, I shall abbreviate it thus COMMUNICATION BY VIBRATION. "Now, take a new book, write the title and hold yourself quite passive while I dictate an explanation of this marvelous system, which may be compared to the nervous system of the human body, since as the nerves connect every portion of the body, both to its great centers and to its tenant, so the vibratory system connects all parts of the Solar System, of which it is a part, with one another and with their common center, which may be called the Cosmic tenant. "This lecture you will find newer to your thoughts, more surprising and interesting than the others. Please be quick. Why do I hurry you so? Because we tenants of etheric bodies cannot wait near you very well, as we have nothing to hold us down, and, besides, Rubinstein and Pere Conde are almost as anxious to get acquainted with you as 68 you are with them, and it has been decided that neither may speak a word to you until your ability to receive has been tested by one more lecture." Beginning of Lecture Proper "Communication between spheres is made possible by the fact that ether, which is common to both the ante- and the post-mortem planes, and which is believed to be common to all spheres within the Solar System, has the quality which enables it to receive and transmit vibrations of all kinds, no matter on what plane or in what source they originate. "Vibrations depend on threads of connection. These threads are furnished by means of memory on the one side and of hope on the other, so long as memory and hope continue to affect both the spirits who have departed from earth and those that remain on it. By these sentiments souls that are physically separated by death are brought together. "Memory and hope, and all other sentiments, passions and emotions have each a material covering so very delicate that it is invisible and intangible to those still embodied in flesh. One of the first pleasant discoveries made by the departed human (who may be called soul, 69 spirit, mind, ego, as you will) is that, although the flesh body was left on earth, he is not without a body, i. e., a covering for all his faculties and functions—i e., for himself. One of the qualities of this covering of the sentiments is that, when active, it is projected in the direction of the object of its desire. "People who are reciprocally sympathetic, congenial as we say, are bound together by the sentiments we have mentioned. Those who love think of each other after death has separated them physically. Their thoughts, clothed in a substance as real as granite, but so delicate that a cobweb is gross by comparison, send this substance out like feelers. Such sentiments on the part of each act as magnets to the corresponding sentiments of the other; and being projected in the ether (which is the only atmosphere of the post-mortem state and also the intercellular matter and the envelope of the earth's atmosphere), and being reciprocally attractive, they find each other. A junction of this fine matter which constitutes the clothing of the affections and sentiments follows; and when this junction is effected the soul in the post-mortem sphere will know that such junction has taken place, and the joy which in consequence of this consciousness will agitate his whole being, will cause a vibration of this thread of connection which often results in a semi-consciousness and sometimes in entire consciousness on the part of the spirit still flesh embodied. Then the still flesh embodied person will often say, 'I feel 70 as if were here.' 'I am conscious of his presence,' and he will sometimes add, 'I really could almost believe I felt his touch.' "Who that has lost any dearly beloved friend has not had this experience? "The mother feels as if the lost child were really once more pillowed on her bosom. The wife feels almost certain that her husband is present, trying to advise, aid and protect her. The simple fact is that the nominally dead and supposedly absent friend really is present. "Sometimes, probably often, perhaps usually, when people die they do depart from their accustomed places; but when they do so, it is not death that compels or causes their departure. Death makes the occasion for them to depart if there is no permanent tie between them and those from whom death physically separates them. "In cases where the death of the flesh body has not been seized upon as an opportunity to escape from uncongenial relationship, the soul, finding that it can reach its mourning loved ones by these threadlike garments of its emotions, which possess the curious qualities of expansion and contraction and of extension and withdrawal, works arduously, through these qualities, to awaken consciousness in those whom his death has bereaved. 71 "Love is the most vital, i.e., the most powerful of all the emotions, but it is not the only one that seeks to reach those still left on earth. Revenge, envy, hatred and all the evil passions have also this attenuated garment of finer matter, and souls that feel these passions are goaded by them into activity. They all seek their victims with the same result of affecting a juncture through the emotion, whatever it may be, that binds two souls together. "Each of these fine threads of connection may be charged with the whole force of the soul experiencing it; hence the strength and consequent length of any vibration will be determined by the strength of the soul producing it. "These vibrations are sometimes so delicate that their only expression, i. e., their only communicated appreciable influence, is a slightly reduced temperature that may be likened to the passing of the lightest of cool soft breezes over the face or hands. Again the breeze expressing the presence may be so strong, definite and pronounced that it would not be unlike an electric shock. "The vibratory theory of the emotional connection of the two planes of being, here expounded, is comparable with and related to the vibratory theory of light, heat, motion and other qualities which either 72 belong to physical matter or are expressed through it. "Ether, almost infinitely more delicate than the earth's atmosphere, is of course proportionally more sensitive and more fluid. "As a word uttered, even in a whisper, causes the atmosphere to vibrate and through this vibration carries the word to the ear, so a thought affects ether, causes a vibration in the etheric realm and is conveyed to the ear of the listener by a series of etheric waves which are set in motion by this vibration. "There are many degrees of acuteness in the senses of hearing and seeing on the earth, or what we may here for convenience call the Atmospheric Plane, and whatever degree of acuteness one may seem naturally to possess may be cultivated or diminished according to its use. "We know that much of nominal deafness is inattention arising from indifference; and we also know that a veritable impairment of the hearing may be retarded, reduced and almost defied by an alert attention and by that determined will to hear as much as possible which results in the habitual listening attitude. "If the bereaved person who suddenly feels as if the departed loved 73 one were present, instead of denying the possibility of such a manifestation, would assume the listening attitude, the receptive condition, whatever degree of sensitiveness to etheric conditions he may possess, would be augmented, and, moreover, such thoughts, desires, anticipations would continue the vibrations originating in the etheric realm; cause new vibrations responding to the former like an echo; and consequently would create gradually through the use of these vibrations a pathway for the planned, intentional interchange of thoughts, feelings, etc., between the Etheric and the Atmospheric Planes. "This is so simple that it will be rejected by 'the wise in their own conceit,' but the really simpleminded wise will consider and test; they will apply the scientific method, for this is a matter entirely within the realm of science, not affecting religion at all, except as all increased knowledge of the mysteries of the universe and all new perception of the significance of the phrase that 'man is fearfully and wonderfully made' may naturally increase reverence and awe for the Power thus revealed through works, which man knows are not his works. "This is not a question of faith in any other sense than planting a seed, manning a ship, firing an engine, etc., etc., is a question of faith. As has often been remarked, faith is the basis of all human relations and is at the bottom of all human operations. Thus faith in the 74 universal operation of law—faith, that the same causes, under like conditions, will be followed by the same effects, which indeed may be called scientific faith—bases both inductive and deductive reasoning. "If one can imagine the very first farmer, one who had seen neither' seed-time nor harvest, or rather one who, born at harvest, knew nothing of seed-time, one will see that it would require as much faith to see the oak tree in the acorn, the loaf of bread in the grass-like blade of wheat as it requires to realize communication between the post-mortem and ante-mortem planes of life by one who has never experienced it. However, this illustration is used to justify the assertion that this is a matter to be investigated by the scientific method. "Science observes phenomena, discerns conditions and circumstances, classifies facts, draws inferences, and finally states a theory. The theory that bears the test of application finally comes to be regarded as a law. "This is what is demanded by the theory of the vibratory connection of the two worlds. Shall it be found to bear the test of experience, it will have no effect on Methodism, Presbyterianism or any other form of religious belief. Science can and will prove one of the fundamental 75 principles of Christianity, viz.: Immortality, which depends on the existence of soul, of mind (the intelligent tenant, under whatever name one pleases to indicate it) apart from matter as those still on earth know matter-i. e., apart from the flesh tenement. "This method of communication has been known to great psychics of different lands for several centuries; but nowadays progress is tested by the distribution of its benefits rather than by distinct additions to them; and the time is at hand when this communication between the ante- and the postmortem states will be the privilege of all, and it will become as general as communication by the use of written and printed symbols now is. "You say that it will be quite impossible for any but that small section of the cultured who are given to reflection either to understand or to acquire the use of this method. "In reply, I will ask: How many people who use the telephone and the telegraph really understand the nature of electricity, the construction of the machines employed or the principles involved in their use? "This general ignorance of substance and of modus operandi does not interfere with the use of those means of communication between people at different points of space on earth, nor will the general 76 ignorance of psychology prevent people from receiving the benefits of this system of communication between people in different states and conditions of being. "As there must be some who understand to some degree the nature of electricity, in order that they may manipulate telegraphic and telephonic instruments—so there must be some who to some degree understand the nature of ether and the qualities of etheric magnetism, in order that there may be intelligent mediums for communicating between the two sections of human life—for one who has died is just as human as one who is to die; I may say he is just as mortal—since neither is in himself mortal at all. "Magnetism is the essence or substance next to electricity, when one regards their relative degrees of subtlety—and beyond magnetism, above it in subtlety, is thought. "Thought is ultimately as independent of magnetism as electricity already is of wires. Now etheric magnetism is the wire on which thought travels between flesh-encased and unfleshed souls. This proves that this, .i e., etheric magnetism, is not properly identified with animal magnetism. A prejudice against magnetism exists in the minds of many who associate its generation with unpleasant personalities. "That prejudice is akin to the feeling against the above-ground wires 77 which in all large cities are so unsightly, inconvenient and even dangerous. The parallel may go further for the corpulent gross physiques which are regarded as the generators of physical magnetism are unsightly, disagreeable and inconvenient and their magnetic product is dangerous. "What is etheric magnetism? It is the principle of vitality in that finer atmosphere which not only surrounds the earth planet and its atmosphere, but surrounds every individual like an envelope, isolating each in some degree from all the rest. We have the phrases, 'So and so has a pleasant atmosphere,' 'an agreeable atmosphere,' 'an harmonious atmosphere.' This is a literal statement of fact, just as real, just as provable as any other physical fact that can be stated about a person. Reduced to the scientific form, the assertion that you like or dislike a person means that you are affected agreeably or disagreeably by the magnetism that he generates, which is the expression of his personality. "The envelope of the individual which is the extension beyond the physical form, (i. e., beyond the flesh encasement of the soul) is the ether which interpenetrates all the tissue of the flesh body, having the same form that the flesh has. This survives death, and is the body with which the mind, the entity, finds itself clothed after death. The element which is the life and power of ether is etheric 78 magnetism. "This element will be used continually by Pere Conde, Rubinstein and myself as we minister to you, instruct and guide you. In all our work we shall be consciously demonstrating not only the vibratory theory which this lecture expounds, but also all of the principles of Psychic Law given in the first two lectures." 79 Why Spiritualism Matters John S. King, M.D. Dawn of The Awakened Mind (1920) If scientists and learned men are justified in their inquiry into the origin, growth and development of human life, and who can deny their right, then am I and others not also as fully justified in our enquiry into life's continuity, and true destination? In other words it is recognized as legitimate to study conditions past, present and future, of earth, air and sea; and so I claim it is quite as legitimate to learn what we can of man in both time and eternity. It would seem unreasonable, useless, and folly that I should have ever had an individual existence if death of the body ends all. If there be no other answer to the question of "What is the good of psychic investigation?" or more properly speaking "What is the good or benefit of finding out that you can commune with spirits?" I affirm that if for no other reason, this is not only my answer, but my justification. . . . After I had proved by my investigations, that my loved ones, who are discarnate spirits, can come to me on thought waves, or by soul 80 power, and by the aid of mediums, and have come, as sworn testimony declares in following pages of the book, not once but repeatedly by aid of guides and different mediums or instruments, not in a single instance, but through one phase and instrument (or medium), viz.: a trumpet phase and medium in one place; a materializing phase and medium in another; and through a human-psychic-telephone and automatic medium in a third; and proved and doubly proved their identity, and established their personality in each case by tests agreed upon during life, thus proving the truth; it must needs be to me and to others a solace and a comfort, and enhance my personal happiness during my remaining years, to know I can reunite with those loved ones who have passed out of the physical body, and into higher, purer, nobler realms where they claim they have found themselves in a more perfect condition of being, with environment and occupation best suited to their several existences; where harmony and progression are stated to be of Heaven's eternal laws, and can and do, with favorable conditions existing, commune with me; and we will be enabled, each one of us, eventually to fulfil the future mission of our continued existence as a unit ego, in the great illimitable universe. 81 Hypatia of Alexandria Dawn of the Awakened Mind John S. King (1920) The present chapter will be wholly devoted to Hypatia's views regarding mind, thought and soul or spirit, and their relation to Deity, together with an outline of her philosophy, and tenets of her creed. She briefly gives her autobiography, and simply refers to her martyrdom at Alexandria. My questions were prepared at my home in Toronto, and placed in my pocket; and no human eye saw them save my own, nor did a single mortal, other than myself, know their contents and yet she gave her answers, and expositions in response to my desires, as contained in them, for further knowledge, as one who proved herself to have been unexcelled as a teacher, in the age in which she lived. This sitting with the psychic at Lily Dale, New York State, was indeed an important and memorable one, inasmuch as it was the occasion of a most exacting test of the genuineness of both the intelligence communicating, and the instrument or medium. I may premise for the reader's information, that to Hypatia, more than to all else, am I indebted for the aid I have received in the compilation 82 of this book, entitled Dawn of the Awakened Mind, which name, I now realize more than ever, best designates the true condition of the present day mind development, and presents to view a new established truth; and while I recognize her partnership of effort, her wisdom as my guide and teacher, her power and influence as a leader in both spirit life and here, I wish to have her place on record what must stand as evidence plain and clear, of her ability to uphold my claim, that life is a continuity; that spirits do come back again to men; and beyond each and every doubt, they do commune with them; and lastly, that the work in which I have engaged, is endorsed by the angel world, and thus is affirmed to humanity as truth. As the time for our sitting had arrived, and Hypatia's presence was made known, I thus addressed her: Hypatia, you have well established your identity in very many ways, such as by letter, or message writing; speaking with vocal organs of a medium in a trance; as well as talking through trumpets; and less frequently, your voice has been heard in song; while many scores of sitters, at materializing séances, have seen you time and again in more than one place, and heard your conversations when meeting me there; and most especially, when a large circle of interested researchers saw you bring for the first time my spirit wife and daughter to me, in a Jonson séance in November. 1911. 83 No pedantic critic need attempt to credit me with seeing a creature of imagination, nor a fraudulent presentation, for you have too often established your identity to me, beyond all question, as well as to others who saw you more than once, and who with me, could frequently have the opportunity to view and recognize your features and your form, your tangibility and motion, your mannerisms and your speech, and in many other ways; as any man could recognize his mother or his wife, and could swear that she was such, without a single doubt or question. Now that Miss Gates, the instrument, is ready and waiting, will you please utilize her services and answer these several questions for me, so that I may have them recorded, and take them home with me. Almost instantly the psychic's hand began to write, and Hypatia was the single word she wrote, as an indication that she at least was ready. To lead the way I first asked for direction. JSK. Shall I read all the questions in the order I have them written here; or submit them one by one, and receive your answers? Answer by HYPATIA. I prefer to receive them the latter way, and then proceed to answer them. 84 The answer followed each question immediately, and continued so to come, until this chapter was concluded. Question 1, by JSK. When the spirit leaves the body; at the so-called time of death, of what does it, the spirit, consist? Answer, by HYPATIA. It is the same spirit that occupied the body, intangible to human normal sense, but tangible to us as spirit. In fact we don't sense anatomy, at all. It is to us as is matter, a machine of static order, that generates for the growing soul, proper health radiation. After the spirit is free, it is to us cognizant, whereas when it is in the body it is inexpressive or dumb. Body does not exist and spirit is all. Your body is made up of matter or moving particles of inert spirit, and God is spirit or that from which all things come. If you want me to describe it from your point of view, I will say it consists of mind, the thinking part of soul, the living or loving part, and of a body produced from habits of thought added to what it was at first, a spirit produced by process of birth. The words may be confusing or interchangeable. Your ideal is correct as to the duality of mind, the mind that thinks, and the mind that produces harmony for the thinking ego blended together make a whole or spirit. If you like the word soul better so use it. Name is limited to express what must be unknown quantity to a mortal or limited mind. 85 Question 2, JSK. Is the mind immortal, does it exist for all time to come? Answer by HYPATIA. The mind is a portion of the Deity or to describe it in a picture, it is a portion of the Deity at birth, but like a plate without markings. A human life-time engraves upon it certain errors of judgment that give to it an opalescent hue, and cause it to be most precious to all who see and serve it. It was everlasting at birth, and after a human life-time, it is not only everlasting but most precious to those who see its work of growth and attainment. What I specially wish to here convey is that the mind or ego, is not only preserved, but the personality is also retained, and continued. Question 3, JSK. Before we proceed further, I desire to know if I err? Or, am I doing what I should not do, in asking these questions, which of necessity are in advance of the normal knowledge of humanity? Answer by HYPATIA. It is not sinful to endeavor to find out what is beyond your comprehension. If you ask of what the sun consists, you do no harm. Therefore, from my point of view, it is not sinful to ask about that which you do not know, regarding intangible things, but to you made real by experiences and observation. 86 Question 4, JSK. Is the whole of mind a unit, and of what does it consist? Answer by HYPATIA. The whole of mind is like to a ball of mercury. It is all of one substance but may easily be separated into smaller complete balls or portions of the first division, or in immature infancy these portions are not engraved and go back easily to high degree, but after life of human, they become individualized so that their life is put on record, like a book, and like a blossom beautiful or dwarfed it stays forever in the garden of its God. When it by more perfection of its growth becomes completed in its love and loses selfish greed of gain, it goes at last into a pool of power, which like to corpuscles of living blood, moves ever onward in a harmony of power to aid and power to grow, and each one helps the other so there is no clashing anywhere, but different power to do as with wise men in human life of you. Question 5, JSK. Is mind compound or has it parts objective and subjective? Answer by HYPATIA. It is compound as you might see but to us perfect like a tree, the sub-conscious is the perfected mind of animal. Its instinct is perfect. It does not reason, and it does not err. The other portion in man developed is like the blossom of the fruit. It 87 reasons and it errs, and yet is by us believed to be most perfect so, with an unending power to grow. Question 6, JSK. Has mind at death to be divided, and some part no longer used? Answer by HYPATIA. It is sometimes cut off from memory of this past life. It, I mean the mind, as a whole is at times deprived of memory, and in that state is placed in circumstances like to a second human life, and so it grows in even state, till from its vicious tendency set free, then it is after shown, and taught what circumstances caused it to be, for man is ruled by circumstance in large degree. Perhaps a fault in growth of brain, perhaps an evil moral tendency inherited from certain fault or error of his ancestry. Question 7, JSK. Does some new element of mind manifest when body dies? Answer by HYPATIA. New senses open to the spirit view. It is as if you for your life-time through, were of your sight or smell bereft. You simply use what you had not the need of while your brain an organ frail was being used by you. Question 8, JSK. By what part of mind is reason exercised in spirit 88 life? Answer by HYPATIA. It is the reasoning portion of the completed mind. The mind is dual as a tree above ground and beneath would be, but each dependent on the other for perfect harmony; but if either was bereft like in the tree the sub-conscious or the root is the most substantial part. The reasoning portion is the portion that develops as a whole and glorifies perfected soul. Question 9, JSK. What difference, if any, is there between spirits carnate and discarnate? Answer by HYPATIA. I referred to that before. I might give your mind a picture of it by saying the living human spirit or incarnate one, is as a child compared to man. A child might have better eyes than the father, but he could not mentally use the objects impressed on his sight, so the incarnate spirit, even when awakened in spiritual power to sense, is not greatly benefited thereby, but when set free the need of spirit senses then exists, and they are appreciated indeed. Question 10, JSK. By what authority is discarnate mind controlled? Answer by HYPATIA. Discarnate mind is controlled on a similar principle to the incarnate. It is guided into paths for its best good. If it 89 proceeds with good and grace, it is allowed to stay and advance rapidly along the way. If it is slow or does not wish to go another takes its place, and it is left to be taught privately. Like to a school the after life, if all are in a class, and do their best, they keep together in a forward way, just as a normal human life will grow in similar degree to its perfection or completion; but if it, the discarnate spirit, cannot be like to the average ones, 'tis given private tutorage along the way, and will attain its growth at later day, like to a backward child at school, but all are forced to certain rule. As birth and death to man is certainty, so to the spirit certain laws must be. If I ask you what makes a comet return to a certain prophesied point, after a lapse of years, you will answer, law, which has been discovered by observation. So in spirit, laws of exactness exist, but God or Deity is all life, and all love, and all wisdom. As perfection cannot err, so it cannot change. It is modified to some degree by other spirits, but the good of each individual is the ultimate end. Question 11, JSK. How is mind of infant spirit developed to adult state? Answer by HYPATIA. Inherited tendency, or the impressions made upon the minds of its ancestors are impressed upon its mind at birth, on principle like to photography after its start, its food and body growth, and also its social environment, have much to do with 90 developing it toward good or evil tendencies. But good is best when it is understood, and wise and loving hearts are always good. Question 12, JSK. Is the ruling power in spirit, or is it found in mind? Answer by HYPATIA. The ruling power is spirit, which is perfect, and perfects all things according to the best of perfect law. Spirit is more perfect than mind. Spirit is the power to produce all things, and maybe complete to the final etherialized state, finer than anything material. A mind is an expression of this spirit. Mind has limitations, spirit has none. The substance mind is a creation of the spirit. It is not easy for a finite being to comprehend absolute capacity to do, to think and reason are attributes of the mind. The spirit is not in this necessity, it knows without effort or need to attain. The Ruling Power of the Universe, the Spirit, has made an absolutely perfect law. This law or these laws are always for the good of the ones governed. These laws are the result of growth, and develop as necessities of development call for laws. Laws are a necessity to finite minds, but to Infinite Spirit there is no need for limitation or law. Law of itself suggests consequence. If you disobey a law, you must suffer in some way. So I think I best express it when I tell you that spirit is absolute, and pervades all matter and mind. Without God or Deity, no life would be. So finite beings are but individual expressions of this general and all pervading spirit, necessary to life in all forms. 91 Death is not possible to spirit. Death is a gateway of change only. The ruling power is, as far as our ability to comprehend, perfect law modified by loving united minds, who teach and aid all lesser ones. You know the heated stove will burn you, but if a child or idiot came near, you would withhold his hand by force, if 'twas necessity to save him. Pain you know would be, and yet the fire is a friend to men. So laws of force exist, and laws of consequence, but all are for the best growth of all concerned. Question 13, JSK. I desire fully to comprehend the true meaning of mind, and of the terms mind-reading, telepathy and thought-transference, and how thought is recognized by me in another's mind, or how thought may be propelled, or attracted from one mind to another one. Is telepathy possible only between two minds in harmonious attunement by a process of vibration similar in principle to that necessary in transmitting Marconigrams from one tower or station to another one, or on the other hand do you deny its real existence? In this same connection I would ask have you knowledge that a thought which originally belonged to the mind of one person may impinge upon or connect in some way, with the mind of another person in harmonious attunement with herself like to the note caused by the bow of a violin, drawn across the string, causing response in a wire which produces a similar note in the piano at the other end of the room? 92 Answer by HYPATIA. I may first say I believe and know it is true, if I had instrument like you, at this end, I could cause her here to sense and know, but she, this one, (the Human-Psychic-Telephone) will not do so. She says cut off all of their power, and leave me silent free, and like a person in a room, her mental door is locked to me; but if I see her little maid, (an elemental spirit) I say call Maudie to our aid, and if it seems to Lala Lee (the maid) desirable she mention me, and then this one (the instrument) may listen if she wishes to, but she is opposite to you in every way, and does not wish to know, or even care if it is so. It is somewhat difficult to describe to finite beings, things intangible to their senses, like Mind, Soul, Spirit, etc. Mind is substance real to myself, real to yourself, but your senses are associated with the knowledge and belief in gravity, and to human senses things not governed by gravity are not real. Mind is not governed by gravity of planets, or gravitation's law. Centrifugal and centripetal forces affect it not, but it has length, breadth and thickness, and has necessity. It may have comfort or discomfort, it may be relaxed or in tension. It is of itself without necessary form and at birth would be void, or without engravings. The mind of each human are at birth alike as far as serious variations are concerned. If I would be most exact, I should say that God is mind, and each individual of whatsoever order, is a 93 chunk of God in greater or less size capacity. I might describe the creation of the universal universes, as having been made on the principles of the development of rudimentary animal life, on the plan of fission or automatic division of a cell, or an independent organism, that is to say each globule or filament after elongating divides into two segments, each of which increases in its turn, to again divide into parts and so on. The Universes are so produced by growth from the original oneness of Deity, these large or astronomical minds are in desire to produce and protect lives, and are taught how to proceed to their perfection by ability to communicate directly to Deity. These original minds or individuals are governed by exact laws, and matter, which is all that is cognizant to humans, is the result of these laws. I from my point of view would call all matter mind in different degrees of tension, or potential. Therefore under bonds a mind of advanced order for the purpose of enlightening or teaching investigating men, may in a small degree materialize or de-materialize objects to men familiar, on a similar principle to that used by a human scientist when he would cause heat waves to be changed into sound waves. I might perhaps make you understand the conditions of the universe, if I should say you are living in the completed universe, or the growing one, but there are myriads of complete or ripe universes or individual large minds, like to the Coral Islands produced by the living small animals, on each of these is exactly recorded every thing of its experience. Or perhaps you would understand better if I'd say a spirit 94 after birth completes itself according to its best development, and then, becomes a perfected I am like to Deity in its desire to do good to all, and after further development it becomes an I am not, or a positively negative force, from which matter is made. This mind then becomes like to mother earth vibrant with life, but does not act except in a beneficent way, toward the myriad forms or individuals of life, upon its surface. The spirits of men, and the spirits of elementals are in truth the only truly irresponsible individuals of the mind order. These two orders belong as I might describe to you men, to the conscious or inventive portion of the God mind, and elementals to the active sub-conscious portion of the God mind. An elemental, if not suggested to by a man spirit, will never make a mistake or err in execution of a command. They are of the recording and imitating order, and whatever they do or wherever they go, they follow the suggestion of a mind either carnate or discarnate. They do not invent. The body of humans in life is a static machine, that generates through the life process, the radiation and vibrations necessary for a man's best development. Question 14, JSK. Will you kindly explain to me what thought is, where it originates, how it is created, how directed and controlled. Answer by HYPATIA. Thought is more than a vibration, it is an invention or mental succession of pictures, which as you ask in 95 previous question, may be conveyed to another mind in attunement to itself, either by natural or produced state. Telepathy has real existence, because it is thought-transference either by picture or word method. It may be caught by a disinterested mind, if that mind is in line of its conveyance, or is in harmonious attunement with itself. Elementals may be used to. generate any vibration which I might describe to you as colors. Blue and yellow will produce green. Suppose a blue mind endeavored to communicate by telepathy with a green mind it could not do so till a guide caused the yellow to be added to the blue, till they were of the same shade. This could be done by additions from this side, but its success would depend upon its exactness. Rest and fatigue of body have much to do with the condition of a living mind, and these conditions are dependent on circumstances, not wholly spiritual. Thought is a power of reason, a power to invent, to take things known or observed, and make new pictures from combining them in different kaleidoscopic ways. I know your happiness or unhappiness by intuition, if I come in tune with you. This is a soul power. The power to feel or know. This is done by intuition and power to me known, but with May she cannot of her own self unaided come into tune with you. She is a babe not properly clothed, and I by additions clothe her for the occasions, as is best for her and you. Question 15, JSK. If my thoughts are now known to May and you, is 96 it by sense of sight, or feeling or is it by spirit sense of intuition or prehension? Answer by HYPATIA. You are to me a radiant being, and thus bodily radiation of you is to me as light. What you think or write is recorded, and under proper conditions I can read it as you could a book. I cannot always produce or cause to be produced these conditions, therefore I cannot always read your thoughts or written words. These small necessities to me are like to the pen or pencil and paper to this writer if she would communicate with you. If you were developed in mediumship your body would be like a house equipped with a telephone. I could use it, so could a stranger spirit as well, except a stranger would probably be withheld from entering your house. Question 16, JSK. Have thoughts once formed continuous existence? Answer by HYPATIA. Thoughts once formed have continued existence because they are recorded. The Kingdom of life, both animal and vegetable, is on or over a carbon sheet, that exactly reproduces it. This is in the Kingdom called at the present time, or rather from which the spirits of Levitation and Elementals come. I can, by going through proper forms of vibration and waiting, knock on any door of record of any type or time and find what is therein, kept or 97 treasured. Or I may, which I would do in ordinary way, employ an elemental to go to this point, receive the impression of what I wish to know, and then come to me and repeat it as a graphophone repeats a record. The elemental will go in a bee line, and the record will be exact, if it is not interfered with in transmission. Thought as a rule goes straight forward as in a tube and does not impinge upon a mind unless that mind enters its ray by accident or design. The thought is complete like to a picture created or painted. It may be retraced or copied or obtained again for the hall of record, but it does not continue to vibrate on the principle of waves on a lake after a stone is dropped therein. If it did so one set of pictures would impinge upon another set of pictures, and tend to efface each other. A beautiful thought like a beautiful song, may be retained in memories near, and repeated in a modified way, either with additions or subtractions. Question 17, JSK. If thoughts are definite in form are they not physical? Answer by HYPATIA. In answer I would say that thoughts are physical from spirit point of view, but not from that of human. That is they have not weight, and are not governed by gravity. They cannot be disturbed or delayed by physical substance. Other thoughts cannot modify or change their origin, continuance or end. Other thoughts cannot quicken or delay their execution. They may impress 98 mind and cause new thoughts to be invented, but each thought remains itself intact or unchanged. Question 18, JSK. Am I correct in assuming that I am in attunement with spirit realms, when while I am in a passive state I send forth my soul's desire to receive a message from you or May or other loved one or friend, or whoever I may, and that same one goes to the Human-Psychic-Telephone and communicates their thoughts through that instrument to me in writing? Answer by HYPATIA. All men are in attunement with spirit realms at all times, but when you send forth a true prayer or soul's desire you call to your assistance many exalted spirits, who like to the Jacob's Ladder picture make the way between you and your wish more smooth. The greatest good to the greatest number is always to be considered, and even though we wish earnestly, we often fail to win. But who can say we are not benefited by the wishing? Question 19, JSK. Hypatia, will you kindly explain to me, why some former acquaintances, some distant relatives, and most of the strangers who have sent the messages through the writing instrument, the Human-Psychic-Telephone, to me. have done so without my request, and some whom I had no thought of, was it a thought wave from me to someone that they sensed, (or by 99 telepathy) or why was it so? Answer by HYPATIA. Myriads of spirits wish to communicate with men. Sometimes they serve us in our work for you, and so earn the right to have their wish to communicate granted. Many observe all mediumistic experiments and are like onlookers at the moving of a building, at hand ready to assist, and afterwards deserving of reward in the way of having their wishes granted in regard to personal communications, etc. Question 20, JSK. If thought is a creation of the mind, and mind as a whole is a unit, though having parts as to qualities or functionings, and has for future advantage dormant spiritual senses, then am I to understand that what still remains is soul or spirit, the source from which emanates love, emotion, and other attributes? And does this combination form the completed individual whole of each spirit personality, with its origin in, and future final destination, the Universal and Infinite Spirit, Deity or God? I have thought and I have reasoned that the various parts having spirit origin, by their union together constitute each individual carnate and discarnate personality, an immortal spirit. As an earnest, honest student, I want to learn along these lines what you can and will teach me. Does the spirit through its soul govern the operations of the mind, and if so, is not the spirit entity the ruler of all its parts, and a portion of the Infinite 100 Spirit or Deity, but with a limitation and adaptability to the physical body in human life; but after death without an organized body only as one is assumed for some reason, such for example as recognition, though both physical and visible from spirit point of view? Answer by HYPATIA. I will give answer to your question as well as make response to several others in your mind. The mind is a ball that may either centralize or does centralize, until a thought is invented, then it focuses and sends that thought forth, catapults it as it were. That thought must be in a way a completed picture, expressed in words, or symbols. I would say thought is a creation of the mind. It, the mind, may be active or passive. When passive it is easily impressed by thoughts about it, and must come in touch with it, through some sense either physical or spiritual. The eye as an organ is an instrument like a camera that produces agreeable effects on the mind. There are spiritual senses, in the spiritual body, which continue with the mind and soul of man, after death. A man's mind is like to God's mind, on the same principle that the tree in the seed is just as perfect as the grown tree. Scientists contend that even the future blossom is in this its primal state. But in the primal state, it is perfect. In real tree life, or development, some blossoms will be blighted by frost and circumstance, and some will bear fruit. The God mind would be like to the mind of every individual at birth, but without personalities, which are attained by circumstance and growth. The 101 key to each condition and sphere is in the body and soul of every man. 102 Advice on Mediumship Lilian Walbrook The Case of Lester Coltman (1924) Mediumship should only be undertaken by those physically and mentally fitted for it. It is no good whatever for a bigoted soul of hard principles and narrow outlook undertaking to be a messenger between the two Worlds. Without sympathy such an interpreter more often than not misinterprets and gives to the world false ideas. Needless to say, spirit communications are bound to be many and diverse in their description of conditions here, coloured naturally by the dispositions, temperaments and convictions of the entities communing with mortals; for these entities have come over with their predilections and idiosyncrasies unchanged. But a receptive, courteous and generous-minded sensitive will give to the earth beings a more reliable translation, as it were, of the spirits' thoughts and emotions. Physically healthy, too, must the mediums be or else the spirit-plasms will absorb too much of their strength and cause weakness to brain and body alike. Communing should never be continued for too long at a stretch, and nutrition should be 103 administered throughout. I am quite averse from the idea inculcated by some that sensitives are in a better state for receiving when their stomachs are empty and their energies at the lowest ebb. I am no advocate of the development of a spurious etherealism which only engenders a morbid state of mind and body calculated to divert sympathy and create a just contempt on the part of healthy, happy, well-balanced individuals. Exponents who, through an overzealous misconception, have denied themselves normal bodily necessities and comforts and have become lean, emaciated, and anemic—what inadequate vehicles are such for the spreading of the sublime, sane Truth! They should bring a message of hope and joy, and it were better, surely, that their personalities be happy, joyous and genial. Sensitives of this type will make many more "converts" and appeal far more widely to persons of diverse beliefs, characters, and occupations than the abnormal ascetic who carries an atmosphere of gloom and foreboding wherever he goes. There is another type of medium, too, who retards and does not advance the cause. I refer to those who are certainly gifted, but take only a mercenary interest in their power and give to the initiated an impression that Spiritualism is a species of modern "black magic". 104 I wish to impress upon any endowed with all excellent mental and spiritual qualifications necessary to mediumship, but possessing only frail and delicate bodies and too highly-strung organisms, that it is not wise, nay, it is dangerous, for them to practise. The human body is an instrument so finely wrought that it can quite easily be irrevocably deranged, and as the discarnate bodies must absorb matter physical from the carnate when they manifest, it is only those who have and to spare that should be utilized. Until a vehicle other than the human being be discovered great care and discrimination must be used on both sides of the Veil. Happily investigation in all spheres is making steady progress, and ere long I may safely predict that an instrument which to the world will appear absolutely magical will be evolved. Here that well-worn—but never, be it said, worn-out-quotation from our prophetic William would seem uniquely applicable, "There are more things in heaven and earth…Than are dreamt of in your philosophy". 105 Making a Channel for The Inflow of Power Mary Bruce Wallace The Coming Light (1924) CALL out; feel the influx of power; give thanks; and go on again. This can be done any hour of the day. It must be done with a sure feeling that it is both possible and effective. Try it! You do not try it often enough. You could thus make a regular channel along which strength would continually flow to you. There, are three phases: firstly, the strong demand, uttered aloud if possible; secondly, a very definite realisation by faith of the down-pouring of power; thirdly, a very definite giving of thanks, even if you are not at the moment conscious of the receptivity. Then go straight on again with what you are doing. You should do this scores of times during the day, until you have formed the habit of continual realisation. Believe me, you can do this. Seek the power for every need in your individual lives. Physical, mental, or any other need will be instantly supplied if you only realise it. I behold this power from on high pouring down constantly, and yet scarcely anybody seems to take advantage of it. We here are able to perceive the pouring down of the 106 supply, therefore we rely upon it instinctively, without any need of outer ceremony. For you it is perhaps better to practise daily meditation, at set times, because you cannot outwardly perceive the power. Your practice must be steady; two or three times will not do. You must go on and on, until you have the realisation fully established in your consciousness. This will lift you to a place of power and well-being. If only a few of you could rise to this with sufficient force, the effects would be wonderful. So much could you do for yourselves and your fellows.” 107 On Mediumship Walter DeVoe Inspiration (1928) In all ages the prophets were the mediums through which Angel Hosts preached. This has been the way in which exalted spirits have given their messages of truth to the world. The Angel Hosts overshadowed and inspired a personality who was prepared for that purpose. All the revelations of modern spiritualism confirm this principle of revelation. Tens of thousands of mediums have, during the past hundred years, given messages from all classes of spirits, both high and low. A wise spirit, who perfectly understands the laws of mediumship, may overshadow and inspire a medium without becoming bound or attached to that medium. An unwise and earthbound spirit, not understanding the laws of mediumship, and not having the exalted power of soul to keep from becoming bound to the medium, will possess or obsess the medium. This is the basis for the age-old belief in reincarnation. The presence of a spirit with a person, whether obsessed or possessed, will cause that person to feel that the spirit is an “other self,” and he will see in visions and in dreams 108 the past experiences of that spirit, and he will think that they are his own experiences in a past incarnation. The belief in reincarnation has been preached by teachers of all ages, and the spirits behind those teachings have used it to hold masses of people subject to their selfish, autocratic dominion. It has become so powerful in its sway over millions of souls that it binds them to earth. The teachers who have promulgated this belief of retributive karma, and reincarnation as the means of expiating that karma, have been so hypnotized by it that they could not see the real path of progression even after they entered the world of spirit. As they bound their followers by this false belief while on earth, so they have bound themselves and their followers in the spiritual world. Other seers, without any prejudice for or against this doctrine, revealed that there were paths of progressive to higher spiritual worlds much more inspiring and uplifting than that of reincarnation. If the statement "according to your faith be it unto you" is true, we should then choose a belief less binding to earthly conditions after death than the belief in the necessity of reincarnation. If you hypnotize yourself to believe that you must come back and expiate your sins on earth, you will draw to you forceful spirits of the same faith, who will cause you to become attached to a mortal whom you will possess for the length of his mortal life. This is all there is to 109 reincarnation, and there is no progression in it. 110 Mediumship vs. Mediatorship Walter DeVoe Inspiration (1937) Mediumship has been the means that spirits of this world have used to contact humanity. Mediatorship has been the means that the Angels of the Almighty have developed when, at long intervals, they have come to earth. What people call angels, exalted spirits, are not like the Angels of the Administration of the Creator. The latter come from interstellar heavens. They act with the collective force of millions to do the Divine Will, whereas exalted spirits, the Angel Hosts, act in groups. Under mediumship, the soul still slumbers, and spirits act upon the brain of the spiritual body. Awakened souls on earth can walk in comradeship communion with celestial souls. This has been a real experience in our Place of Radiance, and will become real to all the Doers of the Divine Will. Now the planet has evolved to the spiritual level where mediatorship 111 will replace mediumship. This means that humanity will do the Will of the Creator itself, and will not be controlled or influenced by spirits. It also means that the soul of humanity will become active and masterful. 112 Astral Emanations William Pelley Why I Believe the Dead Are Alive (1942) The skeptic with orthodox reflexes, who never has witnessed such phenomena, is puzzled or caustic because he does not know what happens. How in the name of sound sense can persons who have vacated mortal vehicles—and these vehicles been interred in cemeteries — possibly “come back” in organic equipment and give every evidence of being alive in former aspects of personality? Likewise, if this sort of thing is actual, why haven’t more people heard about it? The first is easier to answer than to second. As you will have minutely delineated to you if you read more of the Soulcraft books treating with such paraphysics, the self-conscious soul of a human being—one hundred percent of human beings—is an indestructible and imperishable entity. Mortal life is a series of adventures in going into a physical body, using it for worldly purposes a given number of years, and “dying” out of it. But always it is the body that dies, not the soul-spirit. The soul of man is said in the Higher Realms to be a spermatozoic emanation of God Himself, thus accounting for sentient life in each and every 113 instance. As I’ll relate to you in my next chapter, I have reason to believe that it was Mary Baker Eddy, beloved founder of the Christian Science Church, who made that clear to me that this indestructible and imperishable soul comes back again and again in many bodies over vast numbers of years, in different lands and civilizations, until it perfects its moral attributes so that nothing is ever to be gained further by coming back. Thereat it goes on about its higher cosmic business. However, this happens— The “thinking” of the soul-spirit is done in the intellectual mechanism of what is called the Light-Body, or the Pattern Body. This is the vehicle, operating at a higher frequency of atomic vibration that keeps the atoms and molecules of the physical body in one consistent pattern throughout the earthly sojourn. Remember, the molecules of every person’s physical body are completely renewed every seven years, but renewal or no; they always conform to the given design that keeps the physical organism recognizable from decade to decade. When the life-course is run, the business of “dying” is merely the process of this Pattern Body pulling out of the gross atomic body, and beginning to view life in its higher frequencies of Matter. Consciousness, I repeat, is carried in the mental equipment of this Light Body, or Design-Body, else none of us would ever remember what had happened to us on earth, after we got to “heaven” … Very good then … This business of “spirit return”, 114 giving it to something that will make the Light-Body or Design-Body tangible again in consistencies of Matter peculiar to this physical or material plane on which we are now living. So-called “Mediums”—like Bertie Lilly Candler or Mary Beattie or a hundred others—are women born with an excessive amount of phosphorus and albumin in their physical systems which under the stresses of trance they can release and provide for the use of others. Such phosphorus and albumin in combination is known by the technical name of Ectoplasm. They release prodigious amounts of it out of the orifices of their physical bodies and it becomes available for persons who have entered onto the higher frequencies of substance-in-Matter to use to infiltrate their Light-Bodies or Design-Bodies and make them appreciable again to the frequencies of this earth-plane. There is little that is necromantic about it—certainly nothing diabolical, unless we want to call all chemistry diabolical. Calling anything one doesn’t understand “deviltry” is, of course, nothing but the ruse of illiterates. What these “spirit” people truly do is “coat” themselves with a material substance provided from the medium, and when the coating is successfully consummated we say that a given “dead” person “materializes’. THEY are emphatically not dead a person, of course, because there has never been any death. There is only metamorphosis from one 115 rate of atomic vibration to a higher rate of atomic vibration. Higher rates of atomic vibration can be aware of lower rates but rarely the reverse. In other words, people on the more tenuous octaves of reality can be consciously aware of what is transpiring on the grosser and lower rates, but when they manifest it, usually the earth-people have an attack of heebie-jeebies at the “supernatural”… is there anything particularly supernatural about your turning your radio to get an orchestra in Cincinnati on a “low frequency rate” but a statesman talking in Europe on a short-wave frequency? The analogy is pat. WE ARE finding now, in this age of radio and nuclear fission, that we have hoodwinked ourselves by saying that “if you can’t measure it, it has no existence”. There are all sorts and degrees of atomic vibration that you can’t measure, and yet one may not be aware of the other, in that both can operate in the same spatial area without their phenomena conflicting. That is what these materialized persons do. They operate in several spatial areas without their phenomena conflicting. They have never perished or gone off to the biblical heaven or hell when their bodies succumbed. They have simply pulled their soul-consciousness out of their defunct organic vehicles and operated on a higher velocity of atomic matter. When we ask them to present themselves to us in the séance room, we provide them with access to a coating or covering for their higher light-body atoms that make them recognizable to this earthly plane. Their 116 Light-Bodies or Pattern Bodies are just as real to them as our physical bodies are to us. By coating them with ectoplasm they become real to us also. But the people inside them are exactly the same individuals that they were when their vehicles weighed 150 pounds on this plane, had to eat three meals a day to “keep their strength up” and get six to eight hours sleep o’ nights or find their nerves misbehaving. It is a long and somewhat involved technical study, and I am giving it to you in a nutshell as I can, so that you may understand that there is little or no hocus-pocus in one of these séances when honestly conducted by an honest and competent medium. If you want more technical information about it, get the Soulcraft books Star Guest or Beyond Grandeur. Actually it is the mass ignorance of hoi polloi that creates the phenomenon we call “grief” in this world. Truly informed people never grieve. Principally they lack anything to grieve about. Grief is a sign of ignorance—always remember that. If you know what is transpiring, you find nothing to feel sorry over or lament. I am giving it to you as I have had it expounded minutely unto me. However, this proposition about so few knowing about what goes on, is another story … IN THE first place, it stands without argument that there are not enough bona fide and competent mediums to go around. In the 117 second place, traditional religion—constructed mostly on allegorical theory—has built up a great superstructure of theological conjecture about the Afterlife, and protected itself by announcing that anybody who challenges or disproves it is in league with the Devil. Naturally the illiterate communicant doesn’t care to become classified as in league with the Devil, so whenever the phenomena of psychical research manifests itself, the orthodox communicant runs a mile. It is all very tragic; all very silly and childish and immature. An age of Science is undoubtedly slated to put the blitz on the whole of it, but not for a little time yet. Science must pave the way to make spiritual emancipation creditable. It jolts some people to be told that if the optic ensemble of the human eye could accommodate a light wave one ten-thousandth of an inch longer than it does commonly at present, the whole aspect of the material world would alter. We would see scores of items and conditions that we do not see at present, whereas another score of items and conditions would become electrically invisible to us. Of course, becoming electrically invisible we would doubtless declare they had ceased to exist. I am told on reliable scientific authority that if the common human eye could accommodate rays of ultra-violet length, the race would suddenly become aware of the complete non-occurrence of death. We should see the Light Bodies of those who have made the metamorphosis ahead of us, realizing they are 118 often moving closely about us. It is their invisibility, owing to the enhanced rate of vibration at which they are moving atomically in their vehicle-composition, which makes us regard them as “gone”. Their entire world of material reality is similarly composed of a vibratory frequency swifter than ours. So it is intangible to us. Not sensing it commonly, we contend it is ethereal. But we are constantly getting indications that it has a reality equal to our world of slower atomic frequencies, that we are visible to those inhabiting it although they are not visible under ordinary conditions to us. Conversely, they tell us that there are octaves of reality above theirs that are quite as incomprehensible to them as theirs is incomprehensible to us. References to discoveries of Science should not overlook the possibility that a gaseous chemical now being experimented with, may crack the enigma of death for the lay rank-and-file, making all the “invisibles” in a room where such chemical is released, opaque to mortal sight. It is a sort of synthetic ectoplasm, I am told. But try to envision what such a chemical discovery would mean to orthodox theological concepts of the afterlife. When the “dead” can be located visibly by means of a peculiar gas released in a room or house, what of the exaggerated allegorical concepts of the departed dwelling in some far-off celestial locality populated by the angels and cherubim, or—without 119 facetiousness—“asleep in Jesus”? Still another school of scientific thought is considering the possibility that the ultra-violet vibratory rates of the “dead” may be slowed down to the rates of our mundane world by the same variety of resonating magnetic force that is said to materialize and propel today’s Flying Saucers. YOU note that this narrative is singularly clear of stories of phenomenal attributes distinguishing others. I have tried to make it the accounting of what I myself have had attested through the medium of my own senses. But during the twenty-six years of affairs which it covers, I most certainly have encountered plenty of persons whose abnormal eyesight permitted them to see into realms of the ultra-violet. Those twenty-six years have been replete with the presences in my affairs of individuals able to discern at a glance, and describe most minutely, the Light Bodies or Pattern-Bodies of presences not discernible to me or the man in the street. In particular do I recall a naval commander in Norfolk, Va. who attended a week of lectures I gave there—a man of Scottish birth gifted with Second Sight—who described again and again personages who were visible to him as being on the platform with me during my delivered remarks. And those descriptions were so distinctive that I could identify the personalities thus invisible to my normal human vision. However, to get back to what we term the phenomena of the 120 materializing séance-room. These graduated people in the swifter velocities of Time and Space gather into the apartment where a materializing séances seems to be imminent, and when the ruby illumination has supplanted the yellow actinic rays of light, stepped their more tenuous personal selves into the exuded ectoplasm derived from the medium’s physical self. Forming themselves in the low-rate earthy pattern again by the direction of their Thought Powers, they walk out to us in their previous aspects of earthly reality, speak to us in voices that we recognize, and reminisce with us on activities together when they were constituted as our present selves. The layman thinks of the process as Spiritualism. It is only Spiritualism as we identify the necromantic activity by the religious cult of that name that openly accredits such phenomena in the religious manner. Those of us who have approached such wonders along the secular route, as I myself have done as described in these pages, no more consider the supernatural aspects of it as Spiritualism than the Spiritualists consider the super-natural aspects of radio, radar, or television as Spiritualism. What the Spiritualists seem to do truly in practice, is furnish opportunity for hoi poloi to form contact through mediumistic professionals with relatives who have moved their habitat into the higher atomic frequencies, and their “religious” services take on the 121 pattern of Questions-and-Answers intercourse with those on the next immediate octaves of consciousness. Is grandma suffering any more in her higher vibration, in result of the malady that carried her off? Should Uncle John sell the house lot on the corner of Main and Third Street or hold it for a higher price in the autumn? Is the young man who has started to “go” with Betsy Jane serious in his attentions? Fancy making a religious ritual of such personal trivial. And yet the Spiritualists have come closer to Truth in appreciating the literalities of the post-mortem state than any other sect distinguishing the modern religious scene. 122 Concerning Various Orders of Life Mary Bruce Wallace Coming Light (1942) For discrepancies in messages received, even from quite high beings, there are various reasons. The most frequent reason is that the medium’s mind is much coloured by previous thought. Through a medium in trance, we can transmit our messages with greater certainty, in some respects. But this condition is not always desirable; it is usually prejudicial to the medium’s health, and therefore we do not encourage it. A strong prejudice in a medium’s mind against the truth of spiritual nature, would make it almost impossible for a Guide to teach this truth through that individual. By many of our higher teachers, it is thought well not to press any truth, seeing that for the time being, so many other truths are more important for the soul on pilgrimage. We wish people to concentrate upon making the most of the present life rather than to look back upon the far past, or into the far future. From evil, i.e., unevolved spirits, the only protection is found in earnest prayer. Not otherwise can the right atmosphere be secured for any séance. Those who take part in a séance should be as 123 much in harmony with one another as possible. There should at any rate be perfect goodwill and openness of mind. 124 The Dead Speak Major J.H. Webster Voices of the Passed (1943) What is known among psychic phenomena as direct voice is, in my opinion, the most convincing. I will begin this chapter with an extract from an article of mine on the subject which was published in Light of March 18th, 1943: I sit in my darkroom, which is not used for photographic purposes, but for the development of the voices of the "passed." With me are three other people; and one of them, my wife, is the medium. No special effort is required on her part beyond sitting in an ordinary chair in a normal state of consciousness and chatting (sometimes singing) with the other three occupants of the room. Nevertheless, if she were not present, no phenomena would occur. So, whatever part she plays in producing the phenomena, it is one of which she is quite unconscious. Obviously, therefore; she is used in some way or other by forces or intelligences whose power to manifest is dependent on something she possesses which we do not. This is an important point to bear in mind when the phenomena are ascribed to the collective power of mind over matter on the part of the 125 sitters. An elongated megaphone, made of aluminum, stands upright on a table. On it are four spots of luminous paint which shine forth like cats' eyes in the dark. Vibrations constitute an important part of the conditions required. These have to be raised to a level above normal, and I have found an electric gramophone admirable for this purpose, as it usually embodies a handy means of controlling the volume of sound; and provided suitable records are available, the music furnishes a pleasant accompaniment to the periods of waiting for the voices. An extended volume control is attached to my chair. This is manipulated by my left, hand, while my right is available for recording what the voices say on a tear-off pad affixed to the lid of the gramophone. There is no hymn singing. If we do sing, we choose bright and cheerful tunes—the same cheerful spirit governing our choice of gramophone records. Some few minutes after commencing the sitting the megaphone wobbles on the table, sometimes beating time to the music. We know then that our invisible collaborators are getting to work, and the megaphone soon rises from the table. Sometimes it drops to the floor once or twice, being replaced by the member of the circle nearest to it. Then it becomes more stabilized in its movements and floats round the circle, bowing, as it were, to each sitter in turn, and 126 frequently touching us lightly, but unmistakably, on our hands, knees and faces. All this time the music continues, dimmed or faded out altogether as required by means of the control on my chair (a variable resistance of 50,000 Ohms). Usually the first voice is that of Leslie, my son, who left this world in 1932 at the age of twenty-four. He performs the duties of master of ceremonies, so to speak, and supplies information as to the amount of power available. Remember, there is complete darkness, except for the spots of luminous paint, which enable the sitters to follow the movements of the megaphone. The spots do not radiate sufficient light to render anything else in the room visible. That we are seen by the unseen intelligences present cannot be doubted, for the touches of the megaphone are deliberate and exact; there is no fumbling, and the delicacy of the touches indicate the precision with which they are made. On one occasion recently the megaphone floated over to me direct from the table and touched my lips, while from it issued the sound of a kiss; and this was immediately followed by a message from my mother. Imagine for a moment what might happen if the medium, or one of 127 the other sitters, tried to bring about this effect fraudulently. Bear in mind that he or she would be unable to see me, let alone find my face and the exact location of my lips. The same applies to the touch of a materialized hand, which I have also experienced more than once. The little finger of my left hand has been gripped and pulled gently by what felt like a thumb and forefinger. As to the voices—well, there they are; they come from the megaphone, and I know that they are not the voices of any of the four people present in the flesh. They are not loud, and sometimes it is difficult to catch the words; an exaggerated whisper is the nearest I can get to describing them—faint when the power is weak, but quite strong and easily audible when conditions are at their best. The messages vary in length, again according to the power available. The communicator's main difficulty seems to be to keep the megaphone up long enough to complete the message; and once the megaphone falls some little time is required to work up sufficient power for further speech. And that brings me to a point where some difficulty usually arises. One can understand that the etheric larynx, lips, tongue, teeth, and so on, of the communicator can become partially "physicalised" by the use of ectoplasm drawn from the medium and the sitters, thus making articulation possible; and, of course, the articulation is 128 amplified by the megaphone. But whence the voices? To whom do they belong? As in the case of trance control, we still have to rely on the contents of the messages themselves for evidence of identity. The voice—at any rate, so far as my own experience goes—is not itself recognizable as belonging to any particular person. Now the skeptic tells us that by some trick of that apparently artful, deceitful and extremely clever subconscious mind, either the medium and/or the sitters themselves unconsciously produce the voices and make them say what the sitters expect or want them to say. This explanation, if a true one, must also account for the lifting of the megaphone, together with its movements about the room, to say nothing of the touches and the pulling of my little finger. A certain type of skeptic (usually a man with theological prejudices), having been floored from his standpoint of fraudulent mediumship, admits the spirit agency in these manifestations, but attributes them to the operations of evil spirits, or sub-human elementals, who, either for satanic purposes or for their own amusement, impersonate prominent personalities, and even departed relatives and friends. In my opinion, this is a more feasible theory than the first, but it 129 weakens, or even destroys its own hypothesis. It must be admitted that we ourselves, and perhaps some of our relatives and friends who have passed on, are far from being saintly spirits. Death does not change ordinary mortals into angels of light. It must also be conceded that if evil spirits can indulge in such entertainment, they have not only survived death, but have some relaxation from eternal punishment. It also follows that if evil spirits can speak through a megaphone, so can good ones, should they wish to do so. So where does the skeptic draw the line when it conies to speaking through a megaphone at a direct voice sitting? Personally, I am fully prepared to admit that seldom, if ever, is it likely that a saintly soul who has progressed to the higher spheres of the Beyond will manifest at such a sitting. We do not expect or wish him to do so; and he has probably been so long away from earth conditions that it would be impossible for him to participate in physical phenomena of this nature. The souls we desire to contact in this way are spirits like ourselves. As for impersonation, maybe some mischievous playboys do sometimes pull our legs—and perhaps our little fingers. But the point 130 is that if an evilly disposed person can speak from the Beyond in this way, so can one who is not so disposed. Whether or not they do speak to us can be, and is frequently, determined by the contents of the messages received. As in the case of other forms of communication, evidence of identity alone decides the issue. I make no claim that evidence of identity, sufficiently watertight to constitute indubitable proof of survival, has yet been communicated at any of my sittings. But it may be reasonably argued that the messages not coming through the mouth of the medium, but through a megaphone, out of the larger end of which issues the spoken word, and at the smaller end of which there is nothing entirely physical, cannot be influenced by the mind of either medium or sitter. I do not say that it is not possible, for allowance must be made for the possibilities, however remote, of the unplumbed depths of the human mind. I merely assert that from what we know at present of our mental capacities such a possibility—or, to be more precise, probability—cannot be reasonably contended. In this connection, however, I would refer the reader to the theory of divine limitations outlined in my article in Light of December 10th last; and ask him to bear in mind that my object is to establish the case, not for absolute and scientific proof, but for a reasonable belief in communication with the beyond. And I will conclude this article by 131 giving a very simple example from the many communications received through the megaphone, establishing firm ground for such reasonable belief. One member of the circle, whose name is Shirley, was addressed by a voice as Cissie. There was no need for the communicator to reveal her identity further than that, because the discarnate speaker was the only person who ever used that name for her friend, Shirley. Now, if Shirley's own mind unconsciously projected that name into the megaphone, from which it was thrown back at her (an absurd notion, but one nevertheless seriously entertained by the skeptic), together with an intimate and characteristic message from the one person who ever addressed her as Cissie, or if an evil spirit had not only discovered by some unknown means this name, but so effectively simulated certain characteristics of the friend as to deceive Shirley, then human nature, human mentality, human or inhuman devilry and the whole bag of tricks of life, either here or hereafter, are so illogical and incomprehensible as to be unworthy of a single thought. I have heard what claim to be the voices of my mother, my son, my brother, some of my wife's relatives, to mention only a few; I have heard issuing from the mouth of that megaphone voices speaking to 132 many friends of mine who have avowed their conviction that the voices were what they purported to be, viz: utterances made by their friends and relatives who were dead and buried. The resurrection of the dead has been demonstrated to people assembled from time to time in a little upper room, of my house, which my wife, through whose instrumentality this "miracle" has happened, calls her sanctuary. Sanctuary indeed it has been to many sorrowing souls who are now comforted in the belief that their loved ones live, are happy, and are "preparing a place for them." Have they been hoaxed? If so, by whom, by what? Is there some as yet unknown diabolical human agency through which such cruel deceit is possible? These "dead" ones say they live. They still appear to possess the same characteristics as they evinced when in the flesh; and are only too ready, when the opportunity occurs, to demonstrate their sense of humour, despite the difficulties associated with communication from the Beyond. This is shown not only in the messages received, but in the peculiar behaviour of the megaphone itself, which frequently performs remarkable evolutions in mid air, dances on the table in time to the music, bows in salutation before each sitter, and indulges in such antics as passing beneath the table and round its legs without touching them. 133 On one occasion we were puzzled by seeing the megaphone turn round and round on its longer axis in a sort of rolling motion. Then it suddenly dawned on us that its movements were responding to the song being played on the gramophone at the time, "Let the Great Big World Keep Turning." As soon as we acknowledged the joke the rolling stopped. When the megaphone drops to the floor, as it does sometimes on completion of the message (or in the middle of it, if the power momentarily fails), it has to be picked up and placed on the table. Once when doing this I found the table was rocking violently, and with such force that even by exerting all my strength in pressing the megaphone against the table-top I was unable to keep it still. This went on for several seconds, until I acquainted the other sitters with my difficulty, when the rocking ceased abruptly, the force opposing my efforts being switched off, as it were, immediately I explained what was happening. Now there was, I think, a subtle intention behind this particular manifestation. If this phenomenon can be accounted for by the power of mind over matter, which in some unknown way was used by me and / or the other sitters, whence came the will and the power? My will and strength were opposing it; the other sitters were unaware of it 134 until I told them. If it is attributable to the unconscious mind, surely the mind must be not only unconscious but insane, to bring about such an effect. No, the phenomenon demands a much more sensible explanation; and that is supplied by the assumption of the operation of some unseen intelligence; and as the same intelligence produces a voice claiming to be that of a discarnate human being, whose utterances indicate evidence of identity, as they frequently do, then it is logical to believe that the owner of the voice has not only survived death but is able to manifest his presence in this and various other ways. And I maintain that this particular combination of table movement and voice production, with its attendant evidence of identity, constitutes one of the strongest reasons for belief in survival and communication. In short, I feel justified in regarding it as a fairly big piece of "gold in the dross." The sanctuary is usually decorated with fresh flowers, two or three loose ones being placed on the table with the megaphone. During a sitting the latter are frequently placed in our laps or in our hands by our invisible visitors, who seem to delight in springing surprises upon us. I have had a tug-of-war with the long stem of a sweet pea, the flower end having been neatly and accurately placed between my finger and thumb (and this takes place in complete darkness, mark 135 you), while someone or something at the other end has pulled against me. The switching on of the light at the conclusion of one sitting disclosed a sweet pea threaded through the medium's hair. But the most outstanding surprise with flowers was a demonstration displaying not only the ability to move objects about but to pay pretty and affectionate compliments. When the sitting commenced two pink roses were on the table; on a pedestal in one corner of the room, well away from the table, stood a bowl of roses of various colours. Present at the sitting were three ladies (including the medium) and two men. At the end of the proceedings on this occasion it was found that one of the pink roses had been deposited on the lap of each of two female members of the circle, while the medium herself was not forgotten, for on her lap was found a red rose, taken from the bowl on the corner pedestal. But that was not all. The pink roses matched the dresses of the two ladies, while the medium's frock was red. So each was presented with a rose whose colour corresponded with her garment, the red rose having been deliberately (or was it chance?) selected from a bowl containing pink, white, red and yellow roses. A noticeable feature of this pretty incident was that the one red rose was extracted from the bowl without leaving any trace of the remainder having been disturbed. If the skeptic is inclined to regard 136 this feat as a fraudulent act, let him try it—in the dark! He must rise from his chair, locate the bowl, then the red rose, and, without fumbling or disturbing its fellows, take it out, return to his chair, which he cannot see, and place the flower in the medium's lap. He must do all this without his movements being made known to others present. 137 Living with The Angels The Eloists Radiance (1986) You can become whatever you set your mind on and strive for with relentless determination. If you wish to develop a high degree of mediumship, you must be willing to discipline your mind toward spiritual truths and purity. You must be willing to commit yourself to a diet and life style that may misfit you for an easy social life amongst the outside world. You must be willing to study the work and experiences of others who have sought a similar path with a tireless devotion and learn from their experiences. You must be willing to practice the art with all its ups and downs, successes and frustrations, from year to monotonous year until your spiritual senses can be opened sufficiently for us to come through you with strength and clarity. Look always ahead realizing that the small skirmishes that are won from day to day will lead to the greater victory ahead. Keep your eye on your goal, whatever it is, and if you persist long enough you will eventually reach it. By providing a channel for us, you are our link with mortality, not 138 because we crave to relive your world, but because we wish to save it. We would spare you the pain and misery that you seem to enjoy imposing upon yourselves. The message we bring proclaims your freedom from such despair and negativity. All that is required is your willingness to rise above it all and become all you were meant to be. Your potential for growth is unlimited, and your journey is infinite. Our lives here in the heavens that travel with your planet are filled with an ever-growing awareness of all that was previously unseen and therefore unnoticed by us as if it had no existence. But as subtle as these qualities of life may seem to your mortal senses, yet they are more substantial and enduring than anything you can comprehend. These qualities include an ever growing awareness of the pervading and pervasive presence of the Creator in all things, with an ever greater realization that this Presence is sentient, alert, and all-knowing; experiencing every event with an unparalleled awareness by virtue of that presence. It includes a respect for the power of thought and how much it is an integral part of our beings. Our beings, our personalities, all that we are is a product of thought. Because thought is also an indivisible aspect of the Ever-Present, so does it travel with potency, bringing us with increase a reward, good or bad, for whatever we have sown. It includes a realization that honesty, integrity, purity and compassion have a value far in excess 139 of their external trappings, a value that extends beyond all time, all boundaries, to accomplish the greatest good for yourself and those within your reach. Be kind, gentle, humble and conciliatory, and you will have greater happiness thereby. In your world of corruption and contention, these qualities are often seen as weaknesses, but in our world they are seen in their' more enduring forms as great assets and blessings. Soon or late you will come to this way of thinking, and in so doing, find the greater happiness the Great Spirit meant to be yours. 140 A Message from The Victorious Immortals The Eloists Radiance (1986) When after long practice one has learned to enter into close communion with exalted Immortal Intelligences, one sees, feels and knows in an instant of time, truths that require a much longer time to translate into human language, as the dream that occupies but a moment may contain the experience of years. To reveal truths from this almost omniscient state of consciousness means that it must be tuned down to the much slower vibrations of the physical brain, and must be clothed in words which at best are inadequate to convey its profound meaning. To translate the thought of Angels into thoughts and words of mortals is like trying to harness the swift, illuminating lightning to a slow-moving ox cart. There are various means of communication between spirits and mortals. Spirits still close to mortals give communications through sensitives in their former style of speaking and writing which reveals their personality. Spirits who have outgrown their earthly mentality think with such rapidity that at times when they would give a communication through a mediumistic brain, they sometimes first pass it through the mind of a spirit more closely in touch with the 141 earth, who impresses it upon the mind of the receiving instrument. In some messages neither of the foregoing methods has been used. At times they were obtained by attuning the outer mind with inner soul-knowing. In deep meditation, the consciousness blends with the consciousness of Angels. All the imperfections of thought and word formation are due to the imperfections of the mortal through which it is conveyed. All of truth and beauty that the reader sees through the veil of mentality is the reality that the Angels would reveal. A writer with greater ability in the use of language will clothe these ideas in more perfect forms; a poet would have chosen the graceful rhythms and pictures of poetic expression; a musician would have clothed these ideas in the soul-moving language of music. The inner well of Inspiration exists in every soul, and anyone who will devote his life to removing the mental debris from his well will uncover the spring of celestial consciousness. We trust that our efforts to reveal what we see and know in the Cosmic Consciousness may inspire every truth-seeking reader with the understanding of the vast value to him of these principles of eternal life and progress. 142 Strong in The Discipline and The Light The Eloists Radiance (1988) Someday we will all be together as one happy family. Till then we must be content to work in harmony at a distance and to limit our communication to these mediumistic channels at these limited predetermined times. We often find it frustrating as you do, when conditions make our contact unclear and weak. But if you will remember that all" such disturbances are brief and cyclic and as subject to change as the weather, you will be patient and simply wait until the cyclic variation becomes favorable again. Rest assured that it always has and it always will. When conditions cast an unwanted cloud over our proceedings, just go back to basics and await our return. Go through the motions of council as you always have. Do your meditations, affirmations and reading. Exercise, fast or recharge with forest or ocean. The basics will always prepare you and keep you well-tuned until conditions again become more favorable. Help others and do good unselfishly so that the thoughts directed toward you are positive and favorable. This helps us as well because thoughts are substantial and real; visibly so on our plane and invisibly so on yours. We are always there beside you, nevertheless, even when your dullness or the clouds in your environment make 143 you doubt your senses. The difference is that your sharpened awareness allows you to maintain control and only allow those who are favorable and of the Light to remain in your presence. Those who are unaware of spiritual things and whose dullness prevents them from I seeing or hearing our presence are the most vulnerable and subject to manipulation by lower plane spirits. It is, unfortunately, the weak minded, the dull and undeveloped souls who are most subject to spirit influence of the lower realms. They are manipulated daily and are unaware of the source of their thoughts and inclinations, until truly their lives are not their own. You, however, are in control; control of your mind and your life. Be proud of that fact because it was a long spiritual struggle that required years of great mental discipline to get you there. You know it does not come easily, nothing of any great value ever really does. So stand tall before your Creator and say, "Here I am, oh God, strong and capable, ready to do Thy will, now and forever. Amen!" 144 Blending Seas of Thought The Eloists Radiance (1990) Let our thoughts blend into one mind as if we were not separate beings, but one in consciousness and one in the awareness of that All Power which brought us into being at some remote time in our distant past. Our desire is to become so in harmony with your thoughts that our consciousness may pass into yours unimpeded, just as heat is transferred from one piece of metal to another when they are bonded for one purpose. Have confidence in your own ability to perceive. Let your mind go. Let it rest and float on the sea of thought that surrounds you. Thought is a tangible force. It is a solid and real power, just as magnetic waves, electrical waves and sun rays are real and potent, though you cannot perceive them except under special circumstances. The waves of thought are similarly real and potent, but in your darkness of corpor you are unable to perceive or measure its 145 potency. Yet it is the greatest force in all of creation, though it is the most subtle. Thought has a specific "frequency", shall we say, and it moves through its own etheric medium at a speed in excess of the speed of light. You can train yourself to tune into the waves of thought and through the right training and preparation, such as that which we in spirit can provide, you can learn to perceive our inspiration, that of other beings on other planes if it so suits our purpose and the thoughts of the Great Spirit as well. With such awareness, great knowledge and understanding can be opened up to you. The powers of telepathy, prophecy, psychometry and other forms of mediumship can all be at your disposal, just as a properly tuned radio can pick up stations on a variety of frequencies. These are the talents that we are seeking to instill in you and to the extent that you can quiet your inner self and open up the mirror of your soul through contemplation, meditation, and practice, we will be able to move you forward in our common service to the Great Spirit, Jehovih, the I AM. 146 Mediums Joseph A. Loffredo, Jr. Spiritualist Basics (1996) The spirit world is of a higher vibration than the earth plane. You can raise your vibration high enough to make contact with the spirit world and the people in it. Conversely, people in the spirit world can lower their vibration and touch down into the earth plane. Mediums are people who are able to raise their vibration high enough to contact and communicate with your loved ones, guides, and teachers in the spirit world. A medium becomes the message bearer for the guides, teachers, loved ones, and other spirits around you who want to talk to you, let you know that they love you, and help you progress spiritually. Personal responsibility and Spiritual Progression Spiritualism teaches that you are responsible for your own happiness and unhappiness. Your happiness and unhappiness are largely determined by how you look at things. Negative things do happen and you have no control over some of them. But you can control your reaction and the point of view you take in dealing with the negative. Besides, an uncontrollable negative in your life today can have a 147 positive affect on other areas of your life years later. You can make changes to improve yourself and your life, which in turn affect your vibration. Spiritual progression takes time — it doesn’t happen in a minute or overnight. You have to make a start in the right direction first. Your guides and teachers will help if you sincerely ask. 148 Spirit Communion Basics Robert Goodwin A Brief Guide to Mediumship (2004) All that happens when a medium is entranced by someone from the spirit dimension is that a mental link is established that allows a thought flow to occur from one mind to another. There is no displacement of bodies (although this can happen if required, particularly in physical mediumship) just a linking of one mind to another, one spirit to another. The fact that this takes place at all is due to several factors, the most important of which is the ability of the medium to attune with the spirit helpers and the law of attraction which draws the two parties together. No one can force communication to occur or ‘call up’ any spirit person in the vain hope that they will manifest to order. The only reason that the spirit world communicate with a medium is because they choose to. Nothing and no one can in any way force the issue. Even where there is consent on both sides, a degree of spiritual development is required on behalf of the medium to facilitate a ‘point of contact’ with the spirit world. If there is insufficient ‘spirituality’ or spiritual development then it becomes more difficult, particularly for 149 more evolved spirit teachers to link with the medium. There have of course been many documented cases of so called ‘ignorant ‘or ‘earthy’ type individuals who have demonstrated the most sublime mediumship. But a closer analysis of these people will reveal that however ‘base’ their physical make-up, however lowly their social status, however lacking in intellect or appearance, they still possessed a more evolved ‘spiritual’ aspect to their constitution which allowed the spirit guides to draw close. History shows that many of the so called ‘saints’ and spiritual giants of the past frequently emerged from very humble backgrounds. Never judge a book by its cover. Although there are no hard and fast rules governing spiritual training and unfoldment and everyone who has ever developed their mediumship to any degree will invariably claim that their system is the best, there are I believe, certain parameters which should be adhered to in order to allow the spiritual potential of those who aspire to the noble art of mediumship to blossom. It should be stated that there are no short cuts to spiritual attainment. There is no ‘quick fix’ or ready-made formula that will in any way bypass the requirements of discipline, high aspiration and the innermost desire to serve humanity. Spiritual teachers have no time for egos and will inevitably seek to impart this to any personality that 150 sees itself as more important than its fellow man. I have seen many an inflated ego cut down to size by a great, yet humble spirit teacher, whose aim was not to hurt, but to heal, not to chastise, but to teach and lessons of this type learned early on are usually worth their weight in gold and are seldom forgotten. Generally, the best way to progress with any form of mediumistic unfoldment and most certainly with the development of trance is to find a sincere, dedicated group of people who share similar aims and aspirations and with whom one can feel empathy. The group should essentially meet at a regular interval and meditation should commence and complete at a set time. Each sitter should have their own ‘place’ or seat within the circle and the members of the group should occupy these places at each sitting. Ideally, upwards of five people should form the basis of the circle, with seven or nine members of opposing gender being the ideal combination. If sitters can alternate around the circle in a male - female - male configuration, this is 6 even better as it complements the balance of energies within the group dynamics. Peaceful surroundings are preferable and should encompass comfortable seating, correct temperature according to conditions, suitable lighting (preferably subdued)and soothing, appropriate low level background music (optional). It goes without saying that complete harmony between all students is essential and any conflict, jealousy, 151 resentment or egotism should be quickly dealt with by the group leader. The proceedings should commence with a silent or spoken ‘prayer’ either by the group as a whole or by a nominated individual on a rotation basis. In this way, everyone gets to ‘open’ in prayer sooner or later. The speaking of a prayer or as I prefer to call it an ‘invocation’ should never be read from a book. Nor should it be religious in any way. Religion has little to do with true spirituality and the idea behind the invocation is not to promote a religious attitude but simply to unite the group as one and to invoke the help of the divine intelligence which we refer to as ‘God’ through those in the spirit world who act as ambassadors and facilitators of spiritual unfoldment. Following the invocation, a period of meditation preferably lasting for one hour should commence. Each sitter should enter into their own silence and seek to attune with their group of spiritual helpers. During this period the spirit people will draw closer to each individual and attempt to employ and utilize whatever psychic abilities they have. Throughout this time the leader of the group will most certainly be both watching the proceedings, taking time to focus on each student whilst also communicating with the guides of each group to both encourage and assist them in linking with their chosen medium. Indeed, a good group leader will often direct energy to a particular 152 sitter and their helpers by means of thought and also by reaching out a hand and allowing power to flow into their auric field. During my own development the circle leader would often tip-toe carefully up to me, taking great care never to make physical contact which could have resulted in a form of psychic shock to my system, in order to place his hand close to my chin and direct power to the guides who were building an ‘ectoplasmic voice box’ through which they could later speak. Even though deeply entranced, I was aware of a great light emanating from his upturned palm and was able to feel a gentle warmth around my throat. Often during this time the urge to speak would grow ever stronger within and as my own development progressed this became the signal for White Feather to commence his talk. Each student should be encouraged to ‘work’ during their meditation and it should be emphasized here that there is a degree of difference between many meditative states and the type of meditation required for mediumistic development. For example, when sitting in contemplative meditation or when meditating for the purpose of relaxation a slightly different approach is required whereby one can attempt to subdue the thought processes and literally go ‘beyond mind’ where any thought is minimalized, whilst at the same time the body becomes very still and almost ‘transparent’. It is at these 153 deeper levels that ‘out of the body’ experiences can occur. For the purpose of trance mediumship however, a different type of approach is needed. One where, as previously mentioned, the mind is sufficiently calm to be considered passive and yet remains alert to the subtle thought influences of the spirit guides. This condition can be likened to that of a jelly which although still, vibrates when touched. In a similar way the medium’s mind responds to the thought flow of the spirit person attempting to communicate and thoughts ascend from the unconscious levels up into awareness where they are witnessed by the conscious mind. Often these thoughts, which invariably follow a spiritual theme are thought to be the sitters own mind and are rejected as such because of a fear of self-delusion. Indeed, in the early days there may well be some aspect of unconscious self-delusion taking place, but this is to be expected as there will inevitably be a degree of coloration by the both the conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind. However, as development proceeds, there will be a greater emergence of the spirit influence at the expense of the medium’s own thought processes - a gracious sacrifice of the self and a yielding to the deeper thoughts of another, which is the essence of mediumship. There will always remain some coloration, but where development is balanced and ego is subdued or surpassed, this can be kept to minimum. 154 A good marker of whether a spirit controlled trance state is genuine, particularly where development appears to be advanced and speech is regularly evident, is to note both the eloquence of the language employed, the contents of the subject matter being given and the flow of the communication. If the words used are barely above those normally spoken by the medium in their normal waking state or if there is a degree of hesitancy then it is likely that the communication is suffering through interference from the medium’s own mind. As the séance progresses, those sitters not drawn to philosophy or to working at deeper levels of trance should occupy their time in other ways, whilst remaining still and silent and aligned to the rest of the group. Seeking clairvoyance for other members of the group is one option, as is sending out healing thoughts to those in need. Some sitters are used as ‘power packs’ for the rest of the 8 group and these wonderful souls who often fail to develop to any great degree as active mediums, despite their best efforts, are some of the most valuable individuals around. For their energies are used by the spirit at least one of these people present. They are of course compensated in other ways and are often more advanced spiritually than many of their compatriates who appear to have overtaken them on the path to spiritual progress. It should be noted that sitters who are receiving clairvoyant 155 messages during the hour’s meditation should be discouraged from ‘giving off’ their findings until after the quiet time has been completed and the circle leader invites each person to reveal what they have undertaken during the evening. This keeps any disruption to minimum and avoids any disturbances which may affect other sitters who might have entered a deeper state or who are under the control of a spirit helper. A warning here; an entranced medium should never be touched by another in the group unless invited to do so by the spirit guide. To physically touch someone who is in this state can be at the very least dangerous to their health and at the worst, fatal. Even a pin dropped, can sound like a loud thunder clap to a person in this state of trance control, so one can imagine what a physical touch might do. At the end of the meditation, the circle leader will call the rest of the group to time. This can be done by a softly spoken command or simple request that the sitters ‘come back’ to full awareness. A more eloquent way however, is by thought alone and in a well attuned group the thought sent forth from the group head will be picked up by each sitter as they return to their normal waking states. This may sound implausible, but I have witnessed this myself on many occasions. Over time, even this request will probably become redundant as sitters will awaken and simultaneously open their eyes 156 at the allotted time, much to their surprise. It will be noted that those who have entered deeper states will take a little longer to return to normality and care should be taken to allow this to happen. If they fail to open their eyes, as sometimes occurs, the circle leader should note whether the sitter remains under spirit control and if so inform the helper that it is time to relinquish this or if this does not appear to be the case, should make a pass of the hand above the medium’s head, taking care not to touch them in any way. This will have the effect of gently disturbing the auric field without imposing any harm and is similar to one person shaking another out of their slumber. Whisperings of ‘time’ can be uttered and after a few moments the entranced student should return to normality. If all else fails, a few loud coughs usually do the trick! Once the entire group has regained full consciousness, the leader should ask each sitter to deliver any clairvoyance which they may have received along with any other comments concerning their experiences during the meditative hour. They in turn can be given whatever constructive comments the circle head deems appropriate along with any further guidance if needed. Whilst discipline is essential to maintain harmony and focus it is also required to prevent any unnecessary egotism or posturing which sometimes can arise within development groups of this kind. But care should be taken to 157 retain a positive outlook within the circle as negative thoughts about mediumship are likely to produce negative results. Right thinking enhances and assists unfoldment and a good circle leader will demonstrate fairness, discipline, wisdom, insight and confidence to the sitters. Favoritism should be avoided and all students, whatever their level of progression should be treated with equal respect. Where resentment and disharmony arise, mediumistic development can be severely hampered. When the evening is drawing to its close and everyone has completed their work closing prayer should be said, again by alternate group members and the proceedings brought to an end. Sitters should refrain from talking about their circle experiences to others outside of the group, even family members and endeavor to ‘keep their own council’ whenever possible. This is not to create an atmosphere of secrecy but simply to retain the group energies and further strengthen the group dynamic over a period of time. 158 Active Inspiration Robert Bayer Yahoo Open Forum (2011) There naturally is a lot to be said for the traditional spirit circle, whereby the medium is a direct translator of the communications from the spirits and angels from the higher realms and astral planes. The good and true purposes of such sessions can be alleviating the grief of separated loves, healing the sick, liberating mortals from obsessing spirits, or communicating extremely valuable, empowering, comforting and uplifting knowledge about spiritual life in both worlds and as to how they interact and blend together. Yet there are other good purposes as well. Consider that the ultimate connection is not just with the higher angelic realms, but with the Universal Spirit residing in all in Love and Light. Therefore, the message is that none of us mortals should ever simply look at ourselves as mere passive conduits for the light from the heavens but rather that we are living beings whose inspiration can and should also come directly from the All Highest Source, Call Him / Her God or by whatever name for the Ever-Present Creator that you will. 159 True attunement in the spiritualism circles is not mere reporting of what the light is from high but even more importantly an active, conscious-awareness building, towards inner unity and harmonizing power with all the cosmos that shall allow you to develop the capacity to radiate ever more the Spirit of Heaven through you, your thoughts, inner soul messages, visions, and dreams, and all you do and all the people in your life. Your connection and oneness with God, who is Universal Love and Light, through which begins the same developing process with all in your spheres of influence, can and do make for the greatest spiritual progress and harmony for our world. 160